Power of words

Rebecca 5 years old

   When I was 5 years old I had 4 brothers, Steve, Scott, Evan, Dan.  I was crying because I had never had my picture taken by myself so my dad brought me out on the porch and snapped my picture with all my brothers looking through the window along with my mother. 


     Since I had just turned 5,  I would be starting  kindergarten in the fall.  I was a major thumb sucker, and it drove my parents crazy.   I wasn't a disobedient child, I just blocked it completely out of my mind, I was just a thumb sucker and hair twirler and  my favorite place to sit was on top of the heat vent in my bedroom.  Being the first daughter, my parents were beside themselves, they tried everything to get me to stop with no avail.  Finally they felt they had no choice, they took me to the doctor and had a cast put on my right hand from my fingers up to my elbow, I simply became resourceful and started sucking my thumb on the left hand, even though it wasn't as tasty.  They felt devastated about losing control over their only daughter just 5 year old so  they simply gave up trying.

  A few weeks before kindergarten started, I was out playing with some neighbor children, one of them said,

"Becky! You stop sucking your thumb this minute or you won't get to go to school."  I looked up at her as if I had never heard such words in such a demanding voice.  It was a neighbor girl just 1 year older than me. Something clicked, I took my thumb out of my mouth and never sucked it again.

   

     Why was I oblivious to my parent's words? Why did my peers, one year older than myself really have that kind of influence over me? I have never forgotten that little girl and her "matter of fact words"  nearly 60 years ago.

     President Monson told the story of a young boy that was so naughty in Primary, that one week his teacher removed him from class and told him to never come back.  He didn't, and 50 years later he realized that he was the one who had missed out, and his family suffered because of his decision.  Words can be so detrimental or positive, and very life changing.  How many times has a young boy gone on a mission because it was planted in his mind at a young age by someone who said something that took a firm root in his mind?

 If one person can have such a powerful influence, we must give encouraging words with conviction and love to the children around us.  Who knows, maybe our words will pull them through difficulties when their life is turned upside down.

Rebecca today enjoying blogging

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  Whatever words we utter should be chosen with care, for people will hear them and be influenced by them for good or evil.”