Simple Words Have Power to Change People, Including You!

After spending a day with my mother-in-law, I told my husband about our time together. In his quick wit, he said, “Yes! A visit with your mother-in-law, and you’re all fixed!” In a way, he was absolutely right! I wasn’t really broken before I left that morning, but I definitely came home with a renewed appreciation for my man. And what wife can’t use a dose of that!

My father-in-law had a dental appointment, so I stayed with my MIL while their daughter took him. You see, my dear MIL has late-stage dementia, and she doesn’t do well sitting in unfamiliar places for long periods of time.

When they got back, he stayed with us while my sister-in-law left to run some errands.

Late in the day, my MIL became agitated. In order to settle her down, my FIL sat next to her and began to sing Frank Sinatra’s song, “Always.” She looked back at him and sang along. Whatever had her bothered–disappeared. A little later, he printed the words off for her and placed them on the coffee table next to her chair. She read those words over and over–each time, a new time. Sometimes tears rimmed her eyes.

Then she asked me, “Do you have a husband? Does he sing to you? Does he love you?”

With a wink, I answered, “Yes! Tim is my husband! He loves me very much!“

A few minutes later, she asked again. “Is your husband a good man?” I answered, the best!

Eventually she sat next to me on the couch. I decided to pull up Tim’s Facebook account and go through pictures of us together. (This is one of the ways I ground her to reality.) With each picture she was amazed at how handsome he was. Always asking if he was a good man, if he loved me.

This went on for about two hours. During the course of that time, I think I affirmed my love for, admiration for, appreciation for my husband–probably 50 times.

I do have a pretty awesome husband, but I came home loving him more than when I left that morning. In fact, I found myself changing my Facebook profile picture to one of my favorites of us together.

We’ve been married for almost twenty-five years, but like all married couples, we’ve had our ups and downs. Sometimes we’ve been crazy, head-over-heels in love with each other. Other times–we’d just rather not be in the same room for a bit.

Our love has always been steady, but it doesn’t always “feel romantic.” That’s normal. The constant repetition of my love for Tim, however, kindled all kinds of romantic feelings for him.

This is an example of how spoken words have power to change a difficult situation.

I shouldn’t be surprised though. Solomon told us as much in Proverbs.

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. (Proverbs 18:21 NIV)

We choose what affect our words will have on others–even on ourselves. Certainly, our careless words can betray what’s actually in our hearts. But sometimes, consistently speaking words of life is all it takes to get our hearts turned in the right direction. Words of life definitely encourage hearts that are open to it.

In the same way that my father-in-law’s words of love to his wife turned her restlessness into peace, so did my repeated affirmation of love for my own husband, build tender feelings in my heart towards him.

You can read the lyrics to the song my father-in-law shared with his sweetheart here: “Always”

Guess what! The written word is equally as powerful!

Wood-block Words Image: Pixabay (Foundry)