"Sunshine"

A very surprising encounter occurred today as I was about to celebrate a funeral for a long-time friend of my husband and me. A lady approached me, expecting me to remember her from school in 1967. This was a challenge because she was two years behind me and I was only there a semester. She remembered me calling her "Sunshine!"  Imagine, one word that lifted her up, recalling it to this day!

This simply blows my mind but confirms once more how powerful our actions and words are.  They can lift a person up or tear a person down. I do not believe, "sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never hurt me!"  Words can hurt so badly...words like "dumb," "bossy," and "you don't matter."  These negative words are etched into our memories sometimes for a lifetime chipping away at one's self esteem.

Mark Twain said, "I can live for two months on a good compliment." It must be true because this person who talked with me has lived a lifetime with my one word compliment, "Sunshine." I was so glad to know I had been such a positive influence for her.  There are times when I fall short. 

Courtesy of Pixabay

Can you imagine what this world would be like if each of us extended ourselves in such a simple way to express kind, uplifting words to others, not bitter, caustic or demeaning words?  Sometimes fruits of our actions don't reap their rewards for some decades but there are always fruits.  I was just blessed today being told I had called a person, "Sunshine!"  Two blessings:  once for her in 1967, now for me in 2019!  Full circle!  Just imagine what a little "sunshine" does!

Molly LaFond is a spiritual director and can be reached at: 920.793.3530. I can offer appointments in Two Rivers or Crivitz, WI if you would like to do spiritual direction with me to discuss sunshine in your own life!