Saturday Serenity: The Feelings (Part 2)

Last Saturday I wrote a post entitled, “Saturday Serenity: The Feelings” which talked about how powerful words can be.  I mentioned that we might actually forget the words that are spoken, but we won’t forget how they made us feel.

I am extremely honored to share with you an essay that my mother wrote, which gives a first-hand account of how deeply the impact of words can have on someone; in this case, how they personally affected her.  Without further ado, here is my mom’s essay, “The Power of Words:

The Power of Words

This is a story about the power of words. The power to hurt or to heal.

            Think about how you feel when you hear the word “cancer.” Now the word “hope.” Then think about how others feel when your words reach their ears.

            Three instances stand out in my mind, of words that were spoken when I had breast cancer in 1996. The individuals were all in some way related to health care and it is particularly to health care workers that I plead, think before you speak. Always a good idea, no matter what you do!

            Somewhere in that nightmare time of lumpectomy, chemotherapy and radiation, I visited my doctor. It was time to see how far up the wall I could reach my arm and I remember crying in frustration when my arm wouldn’t do what I wanted it to.

            The receptionist said, “Boy, you were really lucky, weren’t you?” referring to early detection. Her words startled me. I certainly wasn’t thinking I was lucky. How could this have happened to me? What did I do wrong? I didn’t deserve this.

             I clung to her words  when the doctor looked at my breast and said, “Wow, that radiation sure did a number on it, didn’t it?”  I had thought it looked pretty good, in spite of the scars.

            In the midst of all this we were  downsizing and I decided to donate several boxes of books to Hopespring, a local organization which supports people living with cancer.

            When I called, the person on the other end of the line said matter-of-factly,  “Oh, you’re a cancer survivor.”

            Survivor? That certainly wasn’t the label I had given myself.

            Ever since then I have looked at things differently, all because of a few words spoken quite innocently. I forgave my doctor. You have to do a lot of forgiving in this life I’ve found.

            My dear mother always said “Think before you speak”  because I was always putting my foot in it, so I know it’s easier said than done.

             Please watch what you say to anyone you meet, especially  those who are suffering.  What will you accomplish with your words? Will you heal or will you hurt?

            To  paraphrase the Golden Rule, “Say unto others as you would have them say unto you.”

            Think! What words do you want to hear spoken today?

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Thank you, Mom! You are an inspiration to all!  I absolutely love this essay; it demonstrates so perfectly how impacting our words can be; no, wait.  I meant to say, how impacting our words ARE!

I hope you are having a lovely day, and that my words resonate with you the knowledge that I am sending you lots of positive energy!