By: J. Olson
Before
the late 1950s, the island of Cozumel, Mexico, was little more than a fishing
village surrounded by Mayan ruins. Historians believe the Mayans settled there
sometime in the first century AD. For nearly 2,000 years, there was little more
to Mexico’s largest island than its ancient artifacts.
All
that changed in 1959 when French ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau declared the
clear blue waters and coral reefs surrounding this Caribbean island as one of
the best places in the world for scuba diving. The rest-as they say-is history.
Today, the Island of Cozumel is a regular stop for thousands of cruise ship
tourists, scuba enthusiasts, and snorkeling fans.
Talk
about the weight of a person’s words! One man’s endorsement put a little-known
Caribbean island on the map. Words can carry great power. Not only can they
transform a tiny island, words also have the power to bring “death or life” to
others (Proverbs 18:21).
A
spiritual mentor of mine once talked about a comment his father made about him
while he was a freshman in college. As a young student hoping to impress his
father with all he was learning, he overheard his father say to his mother that
he had a “sharp mind.” My mentor, who went on to get a Ph.D. and authored
several helpful books, said, “I can’t tell you how many times my dad’s comment
‘he’s got a sharp mind’ strengthened me. During those moments in my schooling
when I wasn’t sure if I was going to make the grade, the words of my father
carried me through.” My friend had heard words of “encouragement” that kept him
going (Ephesians 4:29).
What
is the message of your words? (Proverbs 10:32). You have the power both to do
build up and tear down. How are you using your power?
No comments:
Post a Comment