Lessons I’m Learning From Having A Voice But Not Being Able To Speak

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Imagine not being able to speak for one week, pretty difficult, right? Well, for FOUR weeks I was banned to speak by my doctor. Not a single word due to an abrasion on my vocal chord. My silence was heart-breaking because I love to encourage others, every chance I get. Brightening someone’s day comes very naturally to me; I barely have to think about it. So it was suffocating not being able to express such a natural part of who I am. That’s when I came up with this fun idea to encourage others to be ENCOURAGERS because we can ALL use encouragement each day. Want to spread a little sunshine wherever you go? Then join the #iEncourageChallenge.

Join in, it’s incredibly easy – just 2 steps! [Read More]

Lessons I’m Learning From Having A Voice But Not Being Able To Speak

Thanks to everyone who has liked or shared my page. It’s helping me to reach my goal, so please keep it going.

Yesterday, a kind and sweet lady commented on one of my posts and left me this picture. How poignant that the word “LISTEN” has the same letters as the word “SILENT!” Too often we speak when we should be listening. Because of this voice rest, there are many times when I’m simply not able to speak. One benefit of writing down my thoughts is that it affords me the opportunity to choose my words more carefully. Another is that I’ve had lesson after lesson to drive home the truth that we listen better when we’re silent. I’m grateful that I’ve learned to be a better listener during this period of silence, and plan to continue to be just as a good a listener when I can speak again. [Read More]

Lessons I’m Learning From Having A Voice But Not Being Able To Speak

Yesterday was wonderful! I enjoyed a sweet time with family as we celebrated my younger sister’s birthday. It was extra special because my older sister, Juliet, was visiting from Illinois. There was so much I wanted to share with her and catch up on in person! But writing down everything I want to say is tedious and virtually impossible. Besides, there’s just something about the spoken word—I cannot spontaneously express my heart to anyone during this (now almost 4 weeks) period of prescribed silence. So I just want to encourage you to not let this day go by without using your voice to tell someone just how much they mean to you. I’m yearning to do just that! Do what I can’t do. [Read More]

Lessons I’m Learning From Having A Voice But Not Being Able To Speak

Yesterday I wrote about the difficulty I’m having not being able to praise the Lord with the fruit of my lips. While I recognize that God knows my every thought, it doesn’t change the fact that I’m yearning to verbally express my prayers, my praise, my thanks, and my worship. Nevertheless, I’m daily looking for the blessings to be found in this period of mandated silence. I’m thankful to God that besides this challenge, I’m in good health and still have the use of my limbs and the activity of all my other senses. I have food, shelter and clothing, a family who loves me, and supportive friends. Most of all, I have God. If He is for me–and He is–then nothing can be against me (Romans 8:31).

I’m also thankful that for over two decades now, whenever I’ve faced a trial or challenging situation, God has given me the grace to refrain from thinking or saying, Why me, Lord? I’m grateful that the same holds true for this four week minimum period of silence. As Job exclaimed “Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad (Job 2:10)?” This turns the above question on its head, doesn’t it: Why not me? [Read More]

Lessons I’m Learning From Having A Voice But Not Being Able To Speak

During our anniversary celebration a few days ago, my husband told me how much he misses my voice. He added that although I cannot speak, my countenance exudes what I cannot say. “My” son told me last night, “Mom, I really miss your voice and can’t wait to hear you laugh out loud again.” My daughter has mentioned several times that she can’t wait for me to be able to speak again.

I too am bursting to speak again….

Today is the three week mark of not being able to use my voice. Honestly, I don’t know how I’ve done it. It’s only by the sheer grace of God and the loving support of family and friends that I’m still functioning–not feeling upset, withdrawn, or depressed. [Read More]

Lessons I’m Learning From Having A Voice But Not Being Able To Speak

Just after I was put on another two weeks of silence (making it a total of four weeks), my fifteen-year old daughter expressed her sincere desire to show solidarity by not speaking for a day. I discouraged her from doing so. I told her it was too hard and heroic a gesture, warmly thanked her, and then let it go.

A few summers ago, both our sons worked as customer service associates in fast food restaurants. All their lives, I’ve taught them (and their sister) to acknowledge people by name because not only is it the respectful thing to do, it’s also a simple yet powerful way to affirm others. Want to know when they really understood the importance of this lesson? You guessed right: when they became employees. On several occasions, they shared with me how people rarely called them by name. They both came to see that this disaffirmation negatively affected their overall work attitude and had to work hard to overcome this natural tendency. [Read More]

Lessons I’m Learning From Having A Voice But Not Being Able To Speak

I truly feel that part of the reason for this mandated silence is so that I can be a catalyst for change: to help people more deeply understand the importance of encouragement and to become more comfortable both giving and receiving it. Who are the people in your life–the heart caregivers–who encourage and come alongside you? Who lift you up out of the trenches or pit and help set your feet on solid ground? Who are the people whose life-giving words have been like an icy cold glass of water on a sweltering day? You know people like that, I’m sure. What happens when life throws them a curve ball? Who is there to inspire and encourage them?

I believe with all my heart that what I’m going through is far bigger than just me. While it is true that my current situation inspired this post, this post really isn’t about me. It’s borne of something that I otherwise may never have grasped were I not to have walked through this ordeal. So in my silence today, I hope to be a loud “voice” for all the encouragers and caregivers out there who need encouragement just as much as anyone else. [Read More]

Lessons I’m Learning From Having A Voice But Not Being Able To Speak

I love to encourage others. Knowing what to do or say to lift someone’s spirit comes very naturally to me. I barely have to think about it. I’m also very comfortable paying someone a sincere compliment without giving a moment’s thought to what they’ll think of me.

That’s just the way God has wired me….

If there’s one thing I know from experience, it’s this: no matter who we are, no matter our station in life, and regardless of where we’ve come from or where we’re going…each of us loves the sound of our own name and we desire our very presence to matter. Simply, we all want to be affirmed. That’s why we all crave encouragement. Yet amid our crazy and busy lives, we barely have time to acknowledge one another, much less encourage. It doesn’t change the fact, though, that no one wants to feel invisible or unimportant. [Read More]

Lessons I’m Learning From Having A Voice But Not Being Able To Speak

First, I want to apologize for not posting the past two days. My husband whisked me off for a getaway to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. Between that and finalizing last-minute details for my book, I just could not carve out any time to post. Please forgive me.

Speaking of the getaway, I was initially torn about whether to go. Part of me wanted to go and another part of me didn’t. I struggled with whether I wanted to go away for this special celebration while not being able to speak to my husband. Moreover, although I didn’t know what they were, I knew that my husband had planned a variety of activities for us. I just didn’t want to be in public several times a day and not be able to respond when people spoke to me. On the one hand, I thought my mandated-silence would simply take a lot of the joy and spontaneity out of the trip. On the other hand, this was our 25th wedding anniversary, and I wanted to celebrate it in a very special way. [Read More]