A Good Word

“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”  Proverbs 18:19

It was the beginning of a perfect Colorado day.  Sun shining full in the clear blue sky, and a brisk breeze just cool enough to keep a runner from overheating.  My jogging buddy, a black lab named Nika, pranced and pulled, as anxious as I was to embrace the new day. 

Our enthusiasm was tangible for the first several blocks.  We were like Super Woman and Wonder Dog, ready to leap tall buildings and race speeding trains … until we hit “The Beast”, a massive, 1.7 mile long climb.  It’s funny how quickly I forget the burning pain in my legs and chest in between running days.  Only a few paces into the first hill and it all came back with sudden clarity.  I gasped for air, my vision narrowing to tiny pinpoints of light.  Clearly I was falling short of superhero status.  A vision of the newspaper and cup of coffee sitting on my kitchen table appeared as a glorious beacon, tempting me relinquish my cape and tights and drawing me toward home.

With a glance I noticed Wonder Dog wasn’t doing any better than I was.  Her tongue had somehow grown five or six inches.  It hung limp out the side of her mouth, leaving  a trail of drool for the paramedics to follow.  She continued to put one paw in front of the other, but without conviction.  Noting her weariness, I felt a spark of determination to press on.  I couldn’t allow The Beast to get the best of us.  In an attempt to boost both our spirits, I offered a quick, “Good girl, Nika!  Keep going … we can do it!”

I didn’t think about what I was saying.  It was automatic … a pep talk to help us scale an impossible peak.  Of course, I was talking to a DOG.  She didn’t have a clue as to what I was saying, Wonder Dog or not.  Still, at the sound of my voice her ears immediately perked and her shoulders pulled back.  Sluggish paws picked up their pace and and the wagging tongue found it’s way back into her mouth.  In a fraction of a second, she glanced my way and–I kid you not–her eyes sparkled and I think I caught the shadow of a smile.

I was cheerleading a dog, for heaven’s sake.  Perhaps the lack of O2 was causing some serious damage.  What struck me, however, was the power I had to change the course of that moment.  With a few simple, kindly spoken words, I impacted her ability to go further, go farther.  I imagine I could have accomplished just the opposite with a few ill-chosen comments delivered with a harsh tone.  Instead, The Mighty Beast was brought down one more time and we flew like heroes the rest of the way home. 

I bet if you took five minutes to think about it, you could come up with a dozen or so names of friends or family who are in the midst of scaling their own “Beast.”  Could be something as impossible as cancer or perhaps as common as parenting a toddler.  1.7 mile climbs comes in all shapes and sizes, common only in their ability to defeat and discourage.  Sometimes all that is needed is a few kindly spoken, well-timed words of encouragement from someone who sees the struggle and cares enough to respond.  An e-mail sent, a card mailed, a phone number dialed.  Doesn’t have to be fancy or well-planned.  Only needs to be from the heart. 

Before you “x” out of this screen, please–PLEASE–do something.  Chances are, God penned someone’s name across your heart.  Regardless of who it is, follow through on His prompting and take the time to be their cheerleader.  “Keep going!  You can do it.  You’re not alone–I believe in you!”

There’s nothing like a good, much needed, word.  And who knows?  You might end up being a Wonder Woman who helped tame The Beast and save the day.

“A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”  Proverbs 25:11

“But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today…”  Hebrews 3:13