Next in line at the grocery checkout counter, I unloaded my cart-full of items onto the conveyor. I’d shopped this store for years and noticed the new, young associate.  

She greeted me with a smile and inquired, as was customary in those days, “Would you like paper or plastic?”

I preferred paper, especially for the heavy items, but was aware the store was trying to encourage customers to choose plastic.

“Could you please give me paper bags for the heavy items and plastic bags for the lighter ones?” I asked.

“Sure,” the clerk responded. She turned to her attendant: “Please give her paper bags for the heavy items and plastic bags for the lighter ones.”

It was a simple request, but one that stuck in my mind. The clerk had repeated the exact words that I had used. She could have expressed it differently, but she didn't. Perhaps that is because of the manner of communication or the power of words.   

If the words came out in a not-so-nice manner, such as "I want paper bags ONLY!!!" or "Who gives a darn what kind of bag is used!?" the effect would have been much different for the clerk and the person bagging the groceries.   

The rest of the day, I thought about the impact our words can have: from positive, encouraging words to ones spoken without thought or care.   

A Bible verse from Proverbs 25:11 provides a wise saying for the way in which we should speak: "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver." 

I don’t always use words fittingly. Sometimes negative things slip from my tongue. I think of times in the past when I said things to those close to me that caused hurt feelings, discouragement, or even angry feelings. I felt bad, knowing my words had caused harm, and prayed for forgiveness and asked God to help me do better.      
 
We know words can change lives. Your life—and mine have likely been impacted by positive words or phrases, such as when we hear, "You can do it!”; “I have faith in you!”; "Great job!"; “You are going to be successful!", or "Where there’s a will, there’s a way!”

What good things have people said to you that made a difference in your life? 

Even a simple greeting can make a difference. We often hear the words, "Hello," "How are you?" or "Have a great day!" when visiting a store or other business. Yet, when we don't receive these greetings, we get the feeling that something is missing.      
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To use "words fitly spoken," as mentioned in the Book of Proverbs, benefits not only those on the receiving end of the words, but we also benefit by speaking from our hearts with kindness and compassion.     
     
May your week be a positive one, and may your words shine brightly!   
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Take a look at any U.S. bill or coin you have in your pocket, purse, or wallet, and you'll see "In God We Trust,” our country's motto, imprinted on each. 

The original motto, “E. Pluribus Unum,” Latin for “out of many, one,” was replaced with “In God We Trust,” which Congress adopted as our official national motto in 1956.

We are a nation founded on the belief in a Creator. The first line of the Declaration of Independence includes the phrase, “Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God.” Other references include people “are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights…,” that they have “a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence,” and “…we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”

The Constitution does not specifically refer to religion; however, the words “the year of our Lord” appear in Article VII.

In 1954, Congress passed a law amending the Pledge of Allegiance to include the words “One Nation Under God.”

We are fortunate to be a free and independent nation. The First Amendment guarantees each citizen the right to practice the religion of their choice—or the choice not to practice. Each can decide as they wish. 
 
For those who believe in a higher power, remembering the “In God We Trust” motto on each bill and coin is a way to remind ourselves to trust in the One who created us.   
 
I hope you had a joyful celebration of our nation's 250th Independence Day. My prayer for this new "birthday year" for our Nation is that it will be one in which our collective strength, courage, and perseverance will uphold the values we hold so dear. 

May we learn to gather as one people, undivided, no matter our differences, for our country was not intended to be merely called the "States" of America, but this great Nation was proudly named the United States of America.
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A few verses from the Bible describing the freedom found through Jesus Christ: 
"If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." - John 8:32
"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free." - Galatians 5:1
"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom" - 2 Cor. 3:17

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“I’ll never forget you!” my friend said as we hugged. My words echoed hers. I turned, then boarded my flight from Argentina to my home in Colorado. I'd spent a lovely summer with a wonderful Italian family in a suburb of Buenos Aires, where I attended school and made good friends.        

Certain people touch our lives in ways we never forget, leaving a lasting impression on our hearts. We cherish them and remember them.  

I thought about friends I had during childhood and an incident that took place in third grade. My teacher got mad at me because I wrote my friends' names on my hand with an ink pen. She made me scrub off the ink in the bathroom. I was upset to get in trouble for this. My friends were special to me, and writing their names on my hand was my way of thinking about them.

We hold a special place in our hearts for our friends. God's Word speaks of friendship, too. A verse from Proverbs 18:24 tells us there is one friend "who sticks closer than a brother." That friend is Jesus.  

There is another verse I'd like to share with you (and if I'd known about it in third grade, I wouldn't have felt so bad about getting in trouble). The verse is from Hebrews 13:5; where the Lord says, “I will not forget you. See. I have written your name on my hand.”  
What beautiful, comforting, and reassuring promises! 

As you begin your week, may your heart be joy-filled, knowing how much God loves you! Your name is written on His hand—and no one can erase it!        
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"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:16

P.S. - A beloved hymn that relates to today's story:  "What a Friend we Have in Jesus."  

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When our grandson was little, his favorite toy was a large yellow dump truck he received for Christmas. “My dumb twuck!" he'd say. It was nestled beside him in a soft blanket at night and hardly left his side during the day.  
  
He loved playing in the backyard, where he’d fill the truck bed with gravel, dirt (or muddy soil). He’d squeal happily as he pulled a lever to raise the bed, watching as the contents dumped out onto the ground (or occasionally into his lap).
   
But one afternoon, the lever broke. The truck bed would no longer lift, and the end gate wouldn’t open. Frustrated, tears streaming down his cheeks, our grandson shoved the truck to tip it over and spill its contents. (Now, the truck lived up to the erroneous pronunciation of "dumb").     
    
Mama came to the rescue, drying his tears. Covered in dirt from head to toe, she put her son—and then the truck—into the bathtub for a thorough scrubbing.

I thought of our grandson’s frustration. The gravel and dirt had weighed down the truck, making it difficult to maneuver. Stuck. Burdened with a heavy load.  
 
How many times do we get frustrated when the “gravel and dirt” in our lives builds up, and we haven’t disposed of it? Worry, sadness, anxiety, or other concerns pile up, creating a hard-to-manage heap of “stuff”—that interferes with our comfort, peace, or joy.

Spiritually speaking, the dirt represents sin. The gravel could represent other burdens that weigh us down—that hold us captive. 
  
But we are not meant to be held captive by our sins or burdens. God, the Mastermind of all Creation, brought His beloved son, Jesus (Divine—of God Himself—and yet human), to earth to teach His Father’s will. 

Jesus' crucifixion, death, and resurrection enable our salvation from the sin of the world. Jesus paid the price for us to be set free rather than be held captive to sin and condemnation.  

Seeking God’s forgiveness, we are set free as we lay our burdens down at the foot of the cross.    
In the book of Matthew, Jesus’ words offer us this relief: “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:29-30 NIV

In time, our grandson came to understand the meaning of Jesus’ salvation and what it means to metaphorically “dump” burdens at the cross. 
 
May we take refuge in the words of our Lord and Savior. Through His forgiveness and salvation, our hearts become receptive vessels for His peace, love, comfort and joy. 
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Photo courtesy of Vecteezy.com   
  

The colors, fragrances, sights, and sounds of the street fair blended into a harmonious mix of joy on the sunny spring day. The fair drew hundreds of artists, sculptors, painters, quilters, potters, silversmiths, woodworkers, weavers, crafters, and other creative artisans from across the country, eager to display their wares. 

Enticed, I perused the aisles, marveling at the talent of each artist. A grandfather made custom-built live-edge furniture from local natural resources. A quilter's guild displayed award-winning hand-stitched quilts. An experienced weaver demonstrated the versatility of the looms she used to create rugs, shawls, table runners, tote bags, and fabric for clothing. A food artist lined up a variety of artisanal, home-baked sourdough loaves. A father and son forged handwrought iron gates and doors. Fiber artists displayed hand-knit clothing and crocheted home decor. A Native silversmith worked on a turquoise ring as we watched. One Native American man, who had worked as a shepherd, displayed his collection of Southwestern-style oil paintings, while a Navajo woman, dressed in a velveteen blouse and a long, full skirt, spun wool yarn from fleece to make blankets. 
  
All of the displays featured only handcrafted items. Nothing was factory-produced. Even duplicate items (place mats, napkins, or clothing), had unique characteristics that set them apart from each other.  

Tags or signs at each booth reflected the status of the goods:  “Hand-made,” “Hand-crafted,” “Homespun,” “Handwoven,” “Hand-stitched,” “Hand-wrought,” “Artisanal,” or “Custom-built.” 

Oh, the many skilled hands it took to create all the wares on display! However, it took more than talented artisans for the street fair to function. There would have been little purpose for it without an audience.  The visitors or clientele—who might have been your or me—are unique, too!

God, the Master of the Universe, created you and me—and every other person who has inhabited this planet since the beginning of time. Out of those millions of human beings, isn't it a humbling thought to know that you are unlike any other person who has ever existed? Your fingerprints are like no one else's. Your DNA is solely your own. (Even twins have DNA mutations). Everything about you is unique!

You are God’s creation. Hand-made. Handcrafted. Custom-built. By Him and for Him. The talents and gifts given to you by the Holy Spirit are unique, too. Truly, you are one of God’s Masterpieces!
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"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully  made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." - Psalm 139:14 NIV

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