Words Matter

Words Matter!

I already knew this.
And truly, make it a mission of mine to continually speak life.

However, this past week, I had the opportunity to meet and listen to Brian Boyle speak and I was reminded just how important words matter.

So who is this Brian Boyle I speak of?!?

A few of his online bio's include:
It was a horrific car crash.  On the way home from swim practice in 2004,eighteen-year old Brian Boyle's future changed in an instant when a dump truck plowed into his vehicle. He was airlifted to a shock-trauma hospital.  He had lost sixty percent of his blood, his heart had moved across his chest, and his organs and pelvis were pulverized.  He was placed in a medically-induced coma.  When Brian finally emerged from the coma two months later, he had no memory of the accident.  He could see and hear, but not move or talk.  Unable to communicate to his doctors, nurses, or frantic parents, he heard words like "vegetable" and "nursing home."  If he lived, doctors predicted he might not be able to walk again, and certainly not swim.  Then, miraculously, Brian clawed his way back to the living.  First blinking his eyelids, then squeezing a hand, then smiling, he gradually emerged from his locked-in state.  The former swimmer and bodybuilder had lost one hundred pounds.  

In 2007, Brian Boyle staged what many consider to be one of the greatest comebacks in sports history when he crossed the finish line at the Hawaii Ironman just three years after leaving the Intensive Care Unit.

In 2008, Men's Health magazine named Boyle one of its twenty heroes.

In 2009, he published his first book, Iron Heart, and he was presented the spokesperson of the year award from the American Red Cross for his contributions, service and for hosting his series of Iron Heart blood drives.

In 2010, he graduated Cum Laude from St. Mary's College of Maryland and also made his very first blood donation at the hospital that brought him back to life.  

His story has been features on the Ellen DeGeneres Show, NBC's Today Show, ESPN, and several other programs throughout the globe that have earned Emmy nominations and awards.

His journey of courage and determination has touched the hearts of many and his story and the message it carries has been celebrated around the world.

And I was able to hear it first hand at PRMC last week as he was brought in as guest speaker to relay the importance of what healthcare workers do, day in and day out, from a patient's perspective.

And yes, his journey is an amazing one that is truly an inspiration!  And it didn't stop in 2010; I encourage you to take time to learn more about him and ALL the things he has continued to accomplish since his recovery - including getting married and having their 1st baby girl!

But one of the biggest things I took away from him were two words:

Words Matter.

As we sat and listened to his story, he reminded us that although he was in a medically induced coma, there were times, about 1/2 way into his recovery, that although he couldn't talk and indicate that he was "with it," that he could hear.

He could hear the words being spoken.
And those that were not.

He talks about how at one point he wanted to give up, the fight was just too hard.
And that was the day his dad had come to his room, laid his hands over his body, and begged him to fight.  And reminded him what he was fighting for and who was fighting for him.
He truly spoke life into his son!
And although Brian couldn't respond, he determined that day that he was going to live!

He recalled that as he lay in his hospital bed, he learned to listen to and get to know the voices that were speaking to him each day and night.
That he could tell what kind of day he might have based on the voices he heard.

WORDS MATTER!

Based on the voices, he knew if the nurses and doctors would speak to him as though he could speak back - asking him questions even knowing he couldn't yet respond, talking to him about life in general, sports, the Olympics, telling him what they were expecting of him, etc.

Based on the voices, he also knew if it was going to be a quiet day with no interaction from his care team.

He thrived on the voices that spoke life!!!

Brian, during his recovery, was encouraged to start journaling his experience; to get out all his thoughts onto paper. Meant as part of the healing process, it ultimately led to the writing of his first book. He shared he had a thick stack of composition notebooks simply filled with each day of his journey and what he was experiencing.

Words.

Words that when compiled together became a healing for him and, ultimately, encouragement for others.

I just want to remind you that our words matter!

Just as much to the patient laying in a hospital bed fighting for their life to the one sitting beside you who very well may be fighting just as hard...our WORDS MATTER!

We ALL have something to say that can potentially make or break someone else.
Do you believe that?!?

We all have the power, within us, to build each other up!
And God knows, I know, we all aren't speakers.
Trust me, I've tried...been there and done that...and let's just say it's better I stick with writing.

But none the less, I can still choose to speak life into the people around me!
I don't have to be some big name person in the spotlight when I can simply just be me...

There are people around us who are hurting and giving up.
Our words matter.
There are people around us who lack self confidence.
Our words matter.
There are people around us whose loved ones are fighting addictions.
Our words matter.
There are people around us whose marriages are crumbling to pieces.
Our words matter.
There are people around us __________ (you fill in what you know to be true).
Our words matter.

Friends, we are so much BETTER TOGETHER!!!
And our WORDS MATTER!

I encourage you this week to really stop and think about the words that you are allowing to come out and reach others.
Are you building up?
Or tearing down?

Speak Life to the people around you and watch their world change!

xox,

Jenny

The Importance of Mulching

I would like to introduce you to my friend, Tanya Smith!  I have had the pleasure of serving our community with her through our Adopt A Block ministry.  As much as I would like to think I am an extrovert, I am not, and it has taken me a while to connect with everyone!  But I am...slowly but surely! 
Tanya is one that I have gotten to know more so in the past month and it's not by coincidence that we have more in common that I thought!  She, too, has a passion for writing and you know how I love to encourage others to share - so I told her anytime she felt like she had something she wanted to share to please pass it on and I would post on my Bundle of Twigs - We're Better Together blog and facebook page!

So here you go!!!  Please show her some love!

Tanya states, "I'm 47 years old, newly converted introvert who made the decision to seek her identity in Christ Jesus.  May the words that I write be acceptable in His sight, my Lord and my Redeemer."

The Importance of Mulching

For the last several weeks, the first five words of Mark 4:32 have been needling at my spirit, "Yet when it planted, it grows". Those words have been on a loop in my brain. It just kinda pops up whenever it feels like it. Washing dishes? Yet when planted, it grows. Running errands, yet when planted, it grows. You get the idea. So I did what any good Christian would do. I prayed, "Lord, please make this thought stop!"  Before I could even finish my request, I heard the faint still voice of the Holy Spirit, "ummm, NOPE". 

Tanya being Tanya, I tried debating/defending my position, "I am planted but its not working! I go to church, I serve, I give, I pray, I study the bible, I attend small group, what am I doing wrong?? To a large degree, I still felt disconnected, like my roots were carelessly dangling, not planted. I went back to God again, Lord, please give me vision to see what I'm not seeing. The Holy Spirit put it in my heart to look up the intricacies of farming. Yeah, I know, God works in mysterious ways . 

Moving right along, I start researching farming and planting and wouldn't you know it, I come across a word that I know, but I really don't know what it means: MULCH.

While studying the topic, I read this sentence: A newly planted tree's best friend is mulch! 

OK Holy Spirit, I hear ya, I think we might be onto something! 

Further investigation (quick google search) informs me that mulch plays an integral role in the planting process:

     1. Weed suppression

     2. Slows moisture evaporation

     3. Gradual breakdown of underlying soil to improve the soil's texture. 

Hmmm....ever think God is trying to tell you something??? 

Soooo, the thread that links planting to subsequent growth is mulching??

Ummm, God, you know I'm not a farmer, right? What does any of this have to do with me??

LIGHTBULB MOMENT!!!

Planting + Godly Community (Relationships) = Spiritual Growth!

Much like what mulch does for trees, relationships do for us:

     1. Suppress the growth of negative influences (weeds)

     2. Promotes the growth of God's word in our hearts by engaging with fellow believers, decreasing loneliness and isolation (evaporation)

     3. Gradually breaks down the underlying soil (our hearts) and improving its texture (becoming less like us, more like Christ)

If you're anything like me, you might find yourself spending too much time focusing on the outcomes of situations rather than the process that gets us to the outcome that aligns with God's will for our lives. I was "planted", BUT, I wasn't allowing the soil (my heart) to be cultivated and tilled by God through his servants. I'm a recovering loner and my spiritual growth was being stunted by my unwillingness to reach out, let others in. The enemy has a way of perverting legitimate needs (like connection) that we were created with, thus diminishing the value some of us put on those needs after negative experiences. I was "doing" all the right things, but not "being" transformed. Continual conversion is achieved through community. Yes, God tells us in Proverbs 4:23 to guard our hearts with all diligence, however, we're given the tool with which to guard it in Ephesians 6:14, the breastplate of righteousness. Righteousness is simply in right standing with God, a right RELATIONSHIP, with God. Having a real relationship with God guards the heart better than LifeLock or Brink's ever could!

Now, here comes what could be the difficult part about this whole mulch business, OK? Most of the "mulch" God sends your way probably won't be familiar. It won't look like you, walk like you, talk like you, probably won't always agree with you. Guess what? That's on purpose. Familiarity can be the breeding ground for stagnation. Sustainable growth happens past your comfort zone. Let God till that soil and water all those seeds He placed in you. We really are better together and here you thought that was just a catchy phrase Jenny came up with to name her blog! So just remember, they're not strangers, they're your specially designed mulch that God sent to cover you through the process. 

Sooo, who's your mulch???