The right words

I’ve had lots of conversations over the past 5 weeks. Serious and silly, questions about my life in Kolkata, questions about my friends’ lives in America. Lots of conversation. Lots of encouragement. Lots of questions. It has been so life-giving.

There are a few conversations where people spoke boldly over me, and I don’t think they were even aware of what they were doing – but it was the right word at the right time. The thing that I needed to hear.

Like when Lara (who I am so thankful I met) said to me after Sheila’s wedding, “Melissa, has anyone ever told you that you’re good at making friends.” And then we started talking about how I like to meet new folks, and then how that made me realize that there is this part of my personality and strengths that don’t get much expression in k-town…how when folks pass through town I’m so tired from the emotional realities of my life that I don’t want to really get to know them, and I feel like they couldn’t possibly understand me, or I’m afraid of being judged, and I certainly judge others so I dampen this love, this strength of relationship building. And then I was mulling that over for a few days and grieving that reality a bit – until I realized that it wasn’t completely true. Sure, parts of it are true…but then I realized that this love of new relationships, the way I love getting to know new people is why I love visiting in the Gach so much. And then it seemed like a “duh” moment. It’s why I love visiting…cause I love making new friends. I was able to name that and own that in new ways – thanks to the well timed and right word from a near stranger.

Or when Scott and I were talking and he asked the best questions…it was like he was looking inside my brain and he’d as a question and I’d laugh and he’d say, “it’s not a rhetorical question” and I just laughed cause he kept “calling me out.” And then Scott was able to help me reframe some of my views/perspectives – a different way to see the situations and circumstances. All with a well phrased statement…exactly what I needed to hear.

Or the way Mandy continually speaks truth into my life. I don’t think she’s doing it on purpose. I’ve told her how powerfully God has used her words in my life…but it still catches me off guard, and transforms my thinking at the same time. Like when we were riding in her mini van and I was going on and on about how I saw a situation and she said, (as if it was the most obvious thing in the world), “Well, you’re forgetting_______________” and while it was obvious to her, that truth hadn’t been at the front of my mind.

This has happened over and over the past month. life has been spoken over me and into me. Intentionally and unintentionally. Through little moments and big encounters.

I’m amazed at the ability others have to speak into my life – and then humbled by the thought that I also have that same potential in the lives of others. I tend to shy away from speaking up like that. I think I’m afraid to muddle the waters, or that I’m going to somehow force my will/perspective onto someone in a way they don’t want – so I withhold. I withhold my perspective, or how often do I withhold encouragement cause I don’t want to be weird etc…but I have to say…as one who has received so much in the past month from others, I’m feeling slightly more emboldened to speak my mind!