The Power of A Note
… my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.
Psalm 45:1
We all have bad days. Things seem to come at us from every angle at times. Maybe you’ve had a rough day due to coworkers at the office, or perhaps it was the exchange of heated words with your spouse the night before that is still troubling you. There’s also the feelings that we have when our children are disrespectful or disobey us at times, not to mention harsh words from a friend. All of this can leave you feeling beat up, unappreciated, unloved, and of little worth and value at the end of the day. You’ve reached the point to where you’ve just had enough and are about to blow your top! Maybe women are more prone to this, as Cindi and Hugh point out in their book, due to stifling their anger while they hang on to insults as they feel tension and pressures rising all while dealing with wonderful hormones! Some times we just lose it and end up spewing venom … but often times it is on the ones we love the most.
What if, in the mist of all of this, you discovered a love note from your spouse? Would that help you in that critical moment? I think it would! Cindi speaks of how she had a really bad day and was losing it fast when she found a rose with a simple note attached that said, “Love you, Wife.” She really did lose it then, but in a good way. Tears welled up in her eyes as she felt loved at that very moment. At a critical point, she was reminded of her worth and value when she needed it the most.
Just think of how your words have power! Use them to build your loved ones up and remind them often of how much they mean to you. Use the power of a note to touch their hearts and lives. It only takes a minute to write sweet and loving words on an index card or a sticky note. Take the time! Place the note where they will be sure to find them. If they are traveling, stick these sweet notes in their luggage so they will find them as they are unpacking. Or, something that I especially love to do for my daughters, slip a note that says “I love you” in their lunch box. I have done this on occasion as well when fixing my husband’s lunch for the next day. It’s a simple thing that can mean so very much to them. It is worth the extra effort! I have even slipped little notes inside of his wallet so when he flips it open, there it will be. I’ve left love notes on the dash of his truck so he’ll find them when he gets ready to go to work, and he has left me sweet little notes as well. I have found sticky notes on the bathroom mirror reminding me that I’m beautiful. He has placed notes on my pillow so when I turn the covers back to slip into bed I will find it. I have also found little notes on the seat of my car as well. All of these notes are appreciated and mean so much. He didn’t have to do these things for me, yet he took time out of his day to write these little reminders to me.
Oh the power of a note!
If you’re not sure of what to say, just a simple “I love you” will work! It ALWAYS works, especially if the person feels your love by your actions and not just lip service! Or like Shania Twain’s song, “You’re Still The One” … imagine the impact that would have! After all of these years, you’re still the one I love!
It doesn’t have to be a long, drawn out note where you pour out the content of your heart (although that is always appreciated, too), you can just keep it simple to remind them of your love for them. It will put a smile on their face and warm their heart!
Join us tomorrow for … Giving Each Other Space.
Buy the book on Amazon: When Couples Walk Together: 31 Days to a Closer Connection
Previously in this series:
Introduction: A New Journey
Day One: Enjoying The Journey
Day Two: Leaving Self On The Shelf
Day Three: From Tense To Tender
Day Four: Praising The Positive
Praising The Positive
Don’t ever stop thinking about what is truly worthwhile and worthy of praise.
Philippians 4:8 CEV
On day four in their book, Cindi & Hugh talk about things that originally drew them to their mates now bugging them as some time has passed. For example, Hugh was a deep thinker, taking a while to think on things before he would speak. Cindi originally appreciated this about Hugh. However, as time went on, she began to think he was the moodiest person she knew. Likewise, Hugh originally appreciated how Cindi was able to express herself, but after over 20 years together, there are days that he wishes that she wasn’t quite so vocal about things.
Here is something that I have tried to get us to do here on Light Love Hope. When you are tempted to go to the negative way of thinking, instead find something positive to focus on. Also, if things are really bringing you down, turn your focus to your blessings and how grateful you are for those things instead of complaining and staying stuck in that frame of mind. Is it easy to do? No, it isn’t. We want to immediately go to the negatives and things that bother us. That is why we have to be intentional about this and turn our focus on the positives.
I’m sure you’ve all heard the saying that love is blind. It was initially when you and your mate got together. You both were in a state of bliss so much so that nothing seemed to bother you. You were all dreamy and starry eyed when thinking of, looking at, and being with your mate. As time went on, though, we started to see a little bit of things here or there that began to annoy us. Maybe we need to become blind again to those traits and to anything negative that we may tend to focus on about our loved ones. Let us shift our focus to being open to grace and forgiveness. What if we all chose to become blind to their faults again? Instead of focusing on them and beating them over the head with things that aggravate us, why not choose to take a deep breath and extend grace? There is good in every one of us. I truly believe that. When it seems difficult to find one ounce of goodness, please try looking again. Instead of dwelling on the negatives, praise the positive!
Let’s take a look at Philippians 4:8 again. God’s love working through you will allow you to see “the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.”
Join us tomorrow for … The Power of A Note.
Previous days in this series:
Introduction: A New Journey
Day One: Enjoying The Journey
Day Two: Leaving Self On The Shelf
Day Three: From Tense To Tender
Buy the book on Amazon: When Couples Walk Together: 31 Days to a Closer Connection
From Tense To Tender
A kind answer soothes angry feelings, but harsh words stir them up.
Proverbs 15:1 CEV
Cindi and Hugh began this chapter talking about a date night that Hugh planned, and yet things were certainly not going as planned … for either of them. When they should have been enjoying their time together, instead they were at odds with each other.
Have you ever had a situation like this? I know I have, and actually, something similar just happened at our house last night. We didn’t have a date night planned as in going out to dinner, but instead, we were going out to feed the horses so they would be well satisfied when we decided to go horseback riding later that evening. The horses normally do great, but on occasion, they will become aggressive at feeding time. There is a pecking order with the horses, and the lowest one on the totem pole was getting bullied every which way she turned! No matter where I tried to feed her, the other horses came swarming trying to get her food. We have five horses, so my anxiety was getting up with trying to keep them away from her so she could get enough to eat while not having any of the horses – or myself – get hurt! Pretty soon I was aggravated (and mouthy, which is something I am not proud of), and my husband was feeling stress, too, due to how my mood swiftly changed.
Cindi and Hugh ask, “How do you redeem the moment when it looks like everything is quickly going downhill?”
Someone has to be the bigger person and extend grace. Someone has to try to lighten the situation up and get things going in the right direction. In situations like these, we have to quickly reverse the situation and go from tense to tender in record time if at all possible. That is not always easy, though. What if neither of you want to extend grace at that moment in time? That’s a tough one! Admitting that you were at fault is an even harder pill to swallow.
