Have you ever watched a little boy eat a gingerbread man? Nine times out of ten, they’ll go for the head first. I’ve raised 5 boys, and without fail, I’ve watched them take an inordinate amount of delight in orally decapitating sweet, innocent gingerbread men.
This weekend I’m attending Allume, a conference for women bloggers, and I’m having an incredible time! The women who run this show know how to love on other women . . gift bags when we arrived, free books at every meal, and a lounge filled with coffee, chocolate, cupcakes and cute cookies. I LOVE this place!
But no matter how great it is, there’s something about attending an event with a few hundred women that can be intimidating to many.
I’m one of the many.
My memories of girlfriends run the gamut of wonderful to hellacious. We all know whether they’re four years old or forty, girls can be mean. Some of my memories are of being the victim of mean girls, and some are of being a mean girl. Ironically, most of the meanness that girls are so good at giving is through words.
Throughout the weekend, words have not only been spoken, but they’ve been spoken of and of their power for good. But words have just as much potential for destruction.
Gossip. We women are really good at it, and it seems to come out when we’re feeling threatened.
It’s not something I typically do much of, but last night my insecurities got the better of me, and my words got critical. Even as I write this, there’s a part of me that wants to justify myself . . “I didn’t say anything terrible. I was just expressing my opinion. It was true.”
But as I put my tired, insecure head on my pillow, my heart knew what was true. It was gossip.
This morning I woke up, and my thoughts went immediately to the conviction I was feeling about gossiping. I told God I was sorry and asked him to help me find my security in Him and keep my lips shut.
And He reminded me of my snowman cookie. The one I ate in the lounge with my coffee. I remembered my boys and how they’d bite off the heads.
Then this is what God said to my heart:
“You want to encourage women with your written and spoken words. But if you aren’t careful, you’ll devour the very souls you want to help heal.”
“For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. ~Galatians 5:14-15
Wow. I like it when God uses visuals. His point hit the bullseye of my heart. He showed me this was not just about my insecurity, but about the purity of what He’s put a passion in my heart to do.
Today was better. I chose to love like He said.
And tonight I just ate cupcakes with my coffee.
Thankful for:
4. lessons that involve cookies
5. precious stories
6. new friends
Hi Kim! I'm linking up from Allume (and wishing I was there). Excited to hear how God is moving in the hearts of His girls.
I have BEEN THERE with "expressing my opinion" and He continues to work on me. I'm glad He continues to shape and refine me. Always hoping to grow and mature: I'm not where I want to be, but I'm not where I used to be!
Hugs from VA,
Susan