My Words

I spent last night thinking about the power of words.

I was challenged yesterday by a statement that my blog had become boring. That word grabbed my attention. It also made me think about my words here on my space of the internet. I could not stop thinking about the reason I blog. Why I am writing? What is the purpose of my blog? Am I trying to inspire others? Is this a simple recording of my thoughts?

I started my blog simply because I wanted a place to write. I wanted a creative outlet. When I began blogging, I was a stay at home mom with a deployed husband. I wanted a space that was all my own. I desperately needed a spot of space without sticky hand prints. My blog was a place for me to write anything and everything, just whatever I felt like writing.

The blog world has turned out to be distracting and addicting for me. I did not imagine the blog friends that I would make. I had no idea there was a blog community.

I have made numerous blog friends. I am blessed by a tremendous allergy community that I didn't know existed. Bloggers have encouraged my quests to develop spiritually and as a mom. I have also enjoyed the carnival side of blogging. I have participated in different memes. They are fun and it is fun "meeting" other bloggers that way.

I am in a much different place than I was when I started blogging. In many ways, I am more mature. In other ways, I am a like a teenager looking for her friends at a party. Years ago, I didn't know there was a party.

Words are powerful. With one word, I can discourage or uplift another person. One word can make my 3rd son pull out his fists in aggression. One word can make the same boy run to me with his arms open wide for a hug. One word can make tears spring into my 2nd son's eyes. Words can also make his face light up brilliantly like 4th of July fireworks. Words are powerful. My attitude can be affected by the affirmation of others or the lack thereof.

For better or worse, the comment about my blog being boring is making me think about my words. I will never strive to inspire others. I do aspire to be real. I want to be authentic.

My words are a glimpse of me.

Sometimes I am boring. Sometimes I am goofy. Sometimes I am thoughtless. Sometimes I am unique. Sometimes I am a face in the crowd.

My words, my blog, reflects all of that.

I do not have a problem with being boring, goofy, without depth, unique, or status quo. I am all of that so I know it will be part of what I write. I want my words to reflect more than me. I want my words to be pleasing to the One that I strive to follow. I want my words to be pleasing to the One that gave me my variety of personality traits. I want my words, my blog, to be pleasing to my God.

I consider God my rock and redeemer. (See Psalm 19:14) I run to Him for comfort and affirmation. No amount of comments or lack thereof can change where my happiness is to come from. A powerful comment from an esteemed blogger or a thought-provoking comment from an anonymous commenter will not build or shake my confidence.

The anonymous comment prodded me to think this through. I came away with something that I can use in blog world and in day-to-day life with face-to-face encounters with friends and people in my community.

My confidence does not come from my blog (the stats from statcounter or my comments). My confidence does not come from how well I am received by others. My confidence comes from God (See Jeremiah 17:7). To that end, I am trusting in God. I am praying that my words, here on my blog, in my emails, and straight from my mouth, will reflect more of God than me.

I am praying that my words will be more of God than me.

I am not sure how or if this will change my blog. I am often thoughtful in real life but I am also a mess cleaning, preschool song singing mom that longs to have a little fun. I know my blog will reflect all of this.

Words are powerful. I am thankful for the words that made me think this through. I am praying Psalm 19:14 today.

Psalm 19:14
"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer."