I received a priceless gift during a recent speaking engagement in Charlotte.

As I entered the room prepared for my presentation, I noticed a woman seated in the audience whose face was familiar to me. While being escorted to my seat, I could see her trying to get my attention. I waved and took my seat on the stage, not expecting what was to come.

Before I knew it, her familiar face was standing right in front of me. She greeted me with the biggest hug and the broadest smile.

“I found a job following your visit one year ago,” she said.

She went on to share that, in addition to her new job, she had found housing and bought a car for her and her family. As I listened, her story came back to me. I remembered the broken place where she had been and how damaged her self-esteem was. Her hung head that I had seen on an earlier visit was now held high. This time, she was there as a guest, no longer a resident.

By her own admission, she had not made the best choices in life, struggling through addictions. It seemed that each time she tried to reach out of her muck and mire, someone was there to remind her of her past, convincing her there was nothing better for her.

Being a woman of a certain age, she also struggled with internal messaging that said, “Is it too late?” and “Am I too old to even try?”

During that earlier visit I had encouraged participants to turn down the volume on anyone and anything that was not serving as nourishment in their lives and to turn up the volume on those voices that feed their souls.

As we continued our conversation, she told me how much she appreciated my not judging her and for meeting her where she was. I was thrilled that the words that the Lord allowed me to speak, along with the program she was enrolled in, had helped to pave the way for the life that was waiting for her.

She is not alone! It is my belief that we all benefit from encouragement. We may or may not be at the place where this woman was, but we all have our own stuff that we are working with. Words have power. We can use them for good or we can choose to use them to hurt; it’s our choice. Proverbs 12:18 (NIV) says, “Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”

Each day we have an opportunity to speak a positive word into someone’s life. I had no idea of the value my words had to this woman, but I am glad that my message was available to her. If we pay attention, our paths will always present someone who can benefit from our words of encouragement and testimony. The question is, are we willing to share?
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Tanya is an inspirational speaker and author living in Charlotte. Friend her on Facebook or email her at tw360you@aol.com.

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