Speak Life

7/17/2024

Written by: April Mills

I recently met with a friend for lunch, whom I have known for over 20 years. Even though we have known each other for so many years, our conversations have typically been limited to a quick hello and updates on our kids. We both have busy households, and the whitewater rapid level of parenting has kept us from spending much time together. After many well intended promises of getting together, we finally made it happen. I was excited to spend quality time with this friend, but if I am honest, I was also a little nervous. This would be very concentrated one on one time, and without the distraction of others vying for our attention and our schedules carrying us off. What would I talk about? I suddenly felt exposed and vulnerable, but motivated at the prospect of developing a deeper connection.

We settled on a local Mexican eatery and sat outside on an early afternoon. The weather was perfect, and conversation was easy. Typically, I do the majority of the listening, but on this day, I found myself sharing details of my life and motherhood that I typically withhold. I shared things with her that I hadn’t shared with even my closet friends. She was an easy, compassionate listener, and I found myself in a strange place of vulnerability and therapeutic relief that is born from sharing burdens in a safe space.

After we parted ways, I went through my typical over analyzation of the conversation. My thoughts bounced back and forth between the embarrassment and anxiety of sharing too much and the nagging feeling of being over exposed. We happen to text each other at the same time expressing a thankfulness for the conversation and for prayers for each other’s families. I felt relief at her kind words, as well as gratitude for the deeper level of friendship being opened up to us.

About a week later, I decided to once again be vulnerable and share my thoughts on something near and dear to my heart-my writing. Before our lunch date, she had read my last MDWK Motivation, and sent an encouraging text. To put it simply, her words were like water on parched land. It gave me a spark of life, and brought dreams and goals rushing back to the forefront of my mind. Remembering this, I sent her a text detailing a writing resource I was excited about, and asked her to pray for me as I set forth to intentionally step forward into my writing journey. She quickly replied, thanking me for the text and she would be happy to pray for me. Those words were a gift, but it is what she said next that took my breath away.

“You are equipped and ready.”

That simple phrase was an arrow straight into my heart. Have you had someone speak something to you, and it were as if it was straight from God’s mouth to your ear? That is exactly how I felt in that moment. All the years of dreaming, the fears, doubts and crippling anxiety all came to a screeching halt with that one, simple sentence. Her words sent a thunderbolt of inspiration through me, and for the first time in a long time, I felt all tings were possible when it came to my writing.

Friends, we may never know the true impact our words have on others. In the moment, we may feel unsure or vulnerable ourselves when we think about sending an encouraging note, a text, or speaking an encouraging word. I say this to you-do it all anyway. If you feel a nudge in your heart to encourage or to show love to someone, then do it with all abandon. You may be pouring into them in a precise, divine moment that God has designed and appointed to bring healing, inspiration, or revival to their lives. Words are powerful, friends. They can hurt, yes, but oh the joy and life they can bring! As I forge ahead on my writing journey, friend’s words will remain engraved on my heart. I will stand on the truth that I am equipped and ready to do the work He has called me to do, and to Him, be all the Glory.

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing” 1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV