Words: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

You know you’re a writer when you neglect your blog for weeks on end because you’ve neglected your knitting and dolls, thus you have no projects to share, because you’ve spent all your time working on edits to a manuscript that might never see publication, because the pulse of the very real characters in your imaginary world compels you to keep at it just a little longer, because someday, one of these manuscripts will be the one.

(How’s that for a run-on sentence?)

Hello, my name is Laurie Germaine and I’m a write-a-holic.

 

I am a great writer and God blesses me with great ideas.

That’s my new mantra. I just realized it goes along with one of my two words for 2016, optimism. Now, before you think I’m all egotistical, I barely believe those words—which is why I have to speak them to myself every day. (Optimism, see?) I’ve come a long way in putting the kibosh on my negative thoughts—for the most part—but I haven’t replaced them with too many positives. Not intentionally, at any rate. Which means there’s a void left behind, and heaven forbid the untruths return to set up shop once again.

To prevent that, I have recently decided to start filling the void with positive stuff. Positive words. Because words have power, and when you say something long enough, you inevitably begin to believe it, and then it inevitably seeks a way to prove itself true. So I’ve heard. So I’ve read.

The Bible has a plethora of things to say on the subject of words and what comes out of our mouths. Here are just a few, taken from the New Living Translation, and how they apply to me (and you):

Proverbs 10:32 says, “The lips of the godly speak helpful words, but the mouth of the wicked speaks perverse words.”

Because I’m a Christian, I fall into the first category. Thus, I shouldn’t speak ill of myself, my talents, my worth, my purpose, etc., etc.

Proverbs 17:3 says, “Kind words are like honey—sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.”

’Nuff said, right? Flip it around and it means hateful words are caustic and poisonous. Shudder.

Ephesians 4:29 tells us, “Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.”

Fitting for others’ ears…as well as my own.

In Philippians 4:8, Paul urges the church to “fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”

Words like “I can’t…” or “I’m not creative enough to…” or “I’ll never…” or cussing at myself in the mirror do not fall into the above categories.

Lastly, in 1 Peter 3:10, Peter tells the church, “For the Scriptures say, ‘If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil, and your lips from telling lies.’”

This applies to both people I do life with as well as myself.

So why is it that when I’m dealing with myself there’s a disconnect? We’re not talking about boasting, here. We’re talking about uplifting, encouraging speech. Words that edify and build up. I would never speak to my children, my husband, or my friends the way I sometimes speak to myself—so why do I do it? Why am I sheepish and feel the need to ask for forgiveness when I speak my mantra aloud? It does me no good to believe the opposite. It probably pains God for me to believe the opposite. To say I’m a bad writer and have crummy ideas cripples me and keeps me from being everything God wants me to be. I know this—yet it’s still so hard for me to accept that I’m capable of having great ideas. That I’m capable of publication.

Why?

When I figure it out, I’ll let you know.

In the meantime, I’ll continue to claim it in the hopes I’ll see it bear fruition in the months and years to come. Because God’s given me a gift and I want to use it for His glory. And only He knows what that outcome will look like.

Although I’m pretty sure it won’t look like a Debbie Macomber.

(Wait. Would that be considered a negative thought?)