The Power of Words

Gavin was born with sensitive teeth, and like many children, his teeth had some serious issues at a young age. Through a surgery the dentist did all that she could to spare his baby teeth, especially his front ones. The dentist made him an insert with 2 false teeth a couple of years ago so he could still eat like normal and “look” normal.

Over the course of the past couple of years the inserts had to be taken out for a couple of days. Nicki and I could see it right away. Gavin was down in the dumps! How could a 4 year old be that sensitive about his appearance? (You haven’t met his dad! Ha!) It was amazing that at his age, he was affected with this great of an impact because of the loss of 2 teeth.

A couple of weeks ago the insert came loose. The dentist decided to leave it out for good. In a year or two Gavin would be losing his baby teeth anyway, so it would not be that big of a deal. Nicki and I thought that we would spin it to him as being the “big kid” at school who lost his teeth first! “The tough guy,” Etc…

We tried humor…We taught him when people ask “what happened to his teeth?” to say, “I don’t know, have you seen them?” or my favorite, when people ask, “What happened to your teeth?” to say, “What happened to your face?” After all, it seemed fair!!!

Anyway…the other day, Gavin was once again sad and down in the dumps. It was simple, it was the power of the truth, but we were not saying it, but when we did it made all of the difference to him. I simply told Gavin, a 4 year old, that God made him special. I told him that the devil lies to him and tells him that he is not special, but that he should not believe that lie! Over and over again I assured him that he was special. I could see a glimmer of joy in his face and in his eyes. It’s been several days now, and the gloom is gone. Gavin has a real sense of who God is, he can pray prayers that would shame an adult, and now he knows that God loves him and made him special…he knows that there is only one Gavin, and to God that is neat!

How many students, adults, or just plain people do we come in contact with every day that needs to know that they are unique and special? Who’s life could be transformed by you and I simply sharing the truth that is rarely spoken? The fact is all of us are unique and special to God, and it is a lie and deception from satan to be told anything else. The power of words can harm, but it can also heal and uplift.

Look in your world. You never know who was just torn down by words or who looked in the mirror and left disgusted, or who simply cannot overcome something in their life that is holding them down. You can lift them up!!! You can turn their gloom into joy, you just have to tell them how special and unique they are! Try it!!!

– Nick