Today’s post is a continuation of the series about the power of our words from Fr. Michael Schleupner. We are happy to have Fr. Mike back this summer for a week-long directed retreat where he will offer daily spiritual direction to his group and also offer daily Mass. You can click here to learn more. Let’s take a few quiet moments this Valentine’s Day to read these inspiring words about sharing our love through words.
Words – 2
Dear Friends,
Our words have power, even in our relationship with God. For example, the more positive our self-talk is (this consists of the words that I, in my inner being, speak to myself), the more I name myself a child of God, the more I label myself a temple of the Holy Spirit, and the more I call myself God’s beloved daughter or son – the more I do this, the closer I am to God. The more I do this, the more I am becoming the person that I really am in the eyes of God.
Additionally, the more I speak respectfully to others, the more I talk about others with an awareness that they are persons much like me, the more I voice protection for the poor and powerless, and the more I express what unites our community, country, and world – the more I do this, the closer I am to all as the brothers and sisters of Christ. The more I do this, the more I am alive as a member of the living body of Christ on this earth.
Again, the more I do this, the more I am becoming the person that I really am in the eyes of God.
Please reflect on the following insightful thoughts.
“…the word has the power to create. When God speaks, God creates. When God says, ‘Let there be light’ (Genesis 1:3), light is. God speaks light. For God, speaking and creating are the same. It is this creative power of the word we need to reclaim. What we say is very important. When we say, ‘I love you,’ and say it from the heart, we can give another person new life, new hope, new courage. When we say, ‘I hate you,’ we can destroy another person. Let’s watch our words.”
~Father Michael Schleupner
(Quotation above from: Bread for the Journey by Father Henri J. M. Nouwen.)
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