Cheryl Mendoza

So I was trolling FaceBook the other day and saw a post that was shared by one of my friends.  An author, Lysa TerKeurst, had come across a quote that she said had challenged her.  The quote, “who you are speaks so loudly, I can barely hear what you’re saying”, had her thinking about how our actions speak louder than words.

I totally agree, but…..  That does not let us off the hook for what we say.  There has to be a balance between the two.  I wrote the other day about how my Great-Grandmother taught me to love.  The way I learned from her, was by how she treated all of us.  I am still learning from her.  I look back at her life and I see that her actions spoke so much louder than words.  Wait though, what I think is so amazing is that her words never contradicted her actions.

After writing that blog post, I went into my “box” of stuff, where I keep some cards and letters from my Grandmothers.  So feeling a bit nostalgic, I pulled one out and opened it up.  In the note, she started off by teasing me about my birthday.  I am a Halloween baby, so I have had my share of ribbing over the years.  After teasing me a little bit, she then told me what she thought of me.  She said that I was a nice person.  She wrote that I was kind and loving.

I know I have read those words before, but to see them again as I am pondering this whole question of words and actions?    I knew then that they HAVE to go together.  So to round out this post, I thought I had better go to the good book.  No, not the joy of cooking, but the bible.

And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak.  Matthew 12: 36

Idle words.  These are the words that destroy a testimony, confuse people and diminish influence.  The words, that many times when spoken, cannot be brought back.

Again, another step in this process of becoming the woman who I think God made me to be.  First of all love everyone.  Next, make sure that my actions and words match.  And when I mean match, make sure they do it in a good way.   Two steps down, many more to go, but at least I am moving in the right direction.  Moving ever closer to that woman.  I can’t wait to finally meet her.