They continued, “Even though you are one of the most skilled girls, we have to keep up a certain image. It was as if they had knocked the breath right out of my lungs. I was ecstatic! But, hard on the heels of this news came the stinging, awful words: “However, we would like you to lose a little weight.” They sat me down and said I had made the team. However, the two coaches in charge pulled me aside to speak with me. After tryouts, we all gathered our things to head back to our dorm rooms, awaiting the following day’s announcement telling us who’d been chosen. Her message to this often insecure girl has stuck with me: “I believe in you.”Ī few years later when I went to college, I tried out for the dance team.

I can’t wait to see where life takes you. You love people, and you love God’s Word. I remember the woman who first shared the gospel with me as a teen saying to me one afternoon, “I just know God has great plans for you. Have you ever been on the receiving end of life-giving words? Then, at other times, has something cruel or unkind been spoken to you, where the words lodged in your brain, bringing you sorrow each time you recalled them? “ Death and life are in the power of the tongue …” warns Proverbs 18:21a, today’s key verse. Though words can bring life, they can also deal a death blow. But then, a few days later, it created beauty.

Some of the same ones that he used to smash the existing fireplace to smithereens were the ones he used to carefully tap the new stacked stone pieces into place. The contractor used many tools in his craft. Thankfully, the mason allowed me to capture videos of it for any curious, fixer-upper loving friends.Īs the project was winding down, I noticed something. It was interesting and entertaining to watch the whole demo and building process unfold. It was “demo day” at our house as we were replacing our old fireplace. I could hear the earsplitting commotion from my kitchen where I stood drying the last of the breakfast dishes. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue …” Proverbs 18:21a (CSB)

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