Power of Words

Power of Words

Recently on Facebook, I updated a status of, "There is such power in words. Best to keep them few and well chosen." I think this resonates with so many of us.  With words, we can bring to life a story from our childhood. We can make someone feel so much happiness with just simple praise or we can tear apart a relationship with hurtful, cutting words like a sword. It's so easy to let your mouth run away but when words are out of your mouth, they're out there. You can't take them back. Sometimes, a person may be so deeply wounded by hurtful words, it takes years to repair the damage.

For this reason, think before speaking. Don't let anger or rage get the best of you. In a heated situation, give yourself time to cool off and then speak to the person with a cooler head. Remember, the bigger picture, which is to have a resolution, not necessarily to make the other person cower. A couple of years ago when I first started attending Chase Oaks Church, one of the first sermons I heard from Jeff Jones was about word power. I kept notes and he spoke about how lying takes away trust and how gossip leads to trouble. At the conclusion, he said that you should only speak words that are True, Helpful, Inspiring, Necessary, and Kind.

These days, many conversations are had through email which can be very tricky because there can be major misunderstandings in an email. If you do find yourself in "email argument" choose your words wisely. Some say give yourself 24 hours before sending a reply to a nasty email to someone.

Another way to use words is when speaking to yourself. Joyce Meyer's book, Change Your Words, Change Your Life, talks about speaking faith and not fear. She quotes scripture, "The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?" Psalm 118:6. A book I'm reading currently by Joel Osteen called, I Declare, has a positive declaration to speak over your life daily. Day Three says, "I DECLARE I have the grace I need for today. I am full of power, strength, and determination. Nothing I face will be too much for me. I will overcome every obstacle, outlast every challenge, and come through every difficulty better off than I was before. This is my declaration." Wow, after reading that, I'm excited. I'm fired up!

In the morning, speak words of truth and love to yourself. With the world being as hard as it is, why should we be any harder on ourselves? Instead, lets start each day with words like, "Today is a new day and it will be great!" And, "Thank you, Lord, for another day with my family. Thank you for giving me a job to go to so I can provide for my family. Thank you for giving me another day to live."

Reflection

I was looking at myself in the mirror and it made me start thinking about time and how you always think you have more of it. Lives change in a matter of seconds.  You hear people say, "live each day like its your last with someone".  I always thought that was just a silly cliche people had a habit of spouting out.  Now, I see.  Now, I know what it is to have someone taken suddenly, unexpectedly.  You're left in shock not knowing exactly what to do or think.  Then you grieve. And grieving is interesting because some days you're fine and you think you're holding up pretty well.  Then some days, you're a crying mess.  I think of Mom often, every day, and keep saying things I think she would have said in given situations.  She was so funny all the time and loved telling her jokes.  That's when I remember to thank God for giving me 38 years with my Mother. I was blessed to have someone who I could always call at any hour of the day.  If I called my Mom in the middle of the night, she wouldn't get mad cause I called her late, she was concerned and wanted to help me.  There's not many people who wouldn't mind late night calls like that.

But I have all of my support in place.  I feel close to God.  I feel Him pulling me up, lifting me out of darkness.  Love and support you get from your family and friends is so overwhelming and much needed.  We all feel connected in some way and need to lean on one another to get through adversity.

Reading is my life also.  One of the books I've been reading is Jesus Today and its filled with inspiring bible verses and stories beside them. There are too many verses which I highlighted but want to list a few of them here.

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time.  Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:6-7

"The Lord your God in your midst, the Might One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17

"I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.  You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory." Psalm 73:23-24.

Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid." Matthew 14:27

"You will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13

Mom

                                                                       Oralia G. Garcia
                                                                           1947 - 2012

Oralia G. Garcia, loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, went home to Heaven to be with Jesus on October 29, 2012 at the age of 65. Oralia was a strong, courageous, and loving woman who will be missed by all who knew her. She had a kind and generous heart and a wonderful sense of humor. She is preceded in death by her brother; Robert Guerra and step father; Frank Cruz. Survivors include her parents; Carmen Cruz and Simon Guerra, her husband of 44 years Jose M. Garcia, daughters; Cynthia Garcia, Laura Garcia Kakar and son in laws Dr. Raj Kakar and Joe Contreras, and grand daughters; Sophia Hope and Amber Grace Kakar. She will also be missed by her sisters; Delia Gonzales, Andrea Garcia, Herlinda Meneses and Rachel Avila, her brothers; Adolfo Cruz, Ernest Cruz and Bernard Cruz. She is preceded in death by her sister in law; Maria Stewart and brother in law; Felix Garcia.  Her surviving in laws; are Elodia Astran, Janie Ruiz, Josefina Franco, Jesus Garcia, and Santiago Garcia. She has numerous cousins, nephews and nieces.
Visitation for Oralia will be at Mission Park Funeral Chapel South, Monday, November 5, 2012 from 6:00 P.M. until 9:00 P.M. with the Holy Rosary to be recited at 7:00 P.M. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated 9:30 A.M., Tuesday, November 6, 2012 at St. Lawrence’s Catholic Church 236 E. Petaluma 78221. The interment will follow at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery.
For personal acknowledgment you may sign the guest book at www.missionparks.com in the obituary section.

My Creed

    Recently, as many of you know, I contracted West Nile Virus and ended up spending a week in the hospital with meningitis. It was horrible. But God is great and brought me through it. It took about 4 weeks but I was healed and I'm back to normal now. Laying in the hospital, I started to think to myself, "What if I'm one of the 10% that dies from this? I just want to get out of here and have another chance to live this life. I want to take care of my kids, my husband. There is so much left for me to do.”
    As I was looking through old pictures and books recently, I came across something I wrote over 10 years ago while I was working at the VA. I had attended a Stephen Covey seminar and one of the assignments we did was to write our creed. A creed is a statement of beliefs or principles. I want to share what I wrote back then. I still believe all of these things and now that I have this second chance, it holds true even more today.

                                                                        

                                                                          My Creed

I will live each day with the intention that it will only be as great as I make it. To forget the mistakes of my past but also learn from my experiences. I shall fear God and no one else. May I always find what is the truth and avoid the untruths. And remember to have an open heart and mind, for they will lead me to the truth.

I want to indulge my family and friends with all the love I possibly can. They are the treasures of my life I will not take for granted.

In my profession, may I act with compassion, courage and consideration for what is best for my patients and myself.

I will do my best in keeping my principles at the center of my life, value life's experiences and enjoy the ride.

 

 

Happy 4th!

I recently saw the movie, Act of Valor. It was incredible. True stories based on actual events that occurred during Navy Seal Missions. It's always amazed me how much our military men and women (and their families) sacrifice for their country and for their crew who serve alongside them. It must take discipline, strength, courage to be so selfless and giving. So on Independence day 2012, I like everyone else, will be celebrating our country's adoption of the Declaration of Independence and freedom, with family, barbecue, and getting lots of sun. But, I'll also stop to remember our military and how much we all are indebted to them. God Bless our military, and our country. 
Happy 4th of July!

Half the Sky

When I read a really good book, one that changes how I see things, I have to talk about it.  In this case, blog about it.  Recently, I read Half the Sky, by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl Wudunn.

It's about how women and girls in other parts of the world are oppressed.  The authors take you through Africa and Asia and tell true stories.  Some involving sex trafficking, violence, prostitution, drugs, maternal mortality, and how women are not allowed to get an education in many cultures, societies.  But there are also stories of how it takes one person to care about them, and one by one, people help change these tragedies around and give hope to the seemingly hopeless.  It is so inspiring to read about women who are kicked so far down, but are helped and thrive when someone cares enough to give aid.

Some of it is hard to read, but necessary.  When I started to feel it was difficult to read because of the harshness of it, I thought to myself, "hard for you to read but imagine how hard it was for this person to actually live this."  That helped me push forward.  The stories also show, when a woman is given the opportunity to improve her situation, she doesn't squander it, she runs with it and thrives.

The title I thought was interesting too.  It refers to someone saying that women hold up half the sky.  If you have a chance to read it, please do.  For me, it is essential reading.  It’ll change how you view women in the world and how they are treated.  And it’ll make you want to do something about it.  More needs to be done about this crime against humanity.  Because it’s not just a woman issue, it is a human issue.  

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this subject.  Please leave comments you’d like to share.  If you’d like to learn more, go to www.halftheskymovement.org.

Friends

I have a friend in San Antonio that has given me so much great advice over the years. She is a true friend. We've had plenty of fun times but she always called me out when I was wrong, too. She would be honest with me. At the time I didn't appreciate it for what it was. I could be complaining about how I was wronged by someone, usually a boyfriend at that time. And instead of agreeing with me, she would explain to me how I was the one who needed to see it from a different perspective. I didnt want to hear it because the truth hurts sometimes. But actually she was trying to help me see the bigger picture and how I was letting my past relationships dictate my current ones.

Sometimes we do need someone to listen, but then we need them to be honest with us. It doesn't help to make the same mistakes again and again. If it is a true friend, they will be open and sincerely try to help you. They'll tell you what you need to hear, not just what you want to hear.

One thing I've learned is the value of friendship. To my friends I say, thanks. My life is richer because of you.