Walk in the Light

Audio spot first aired on KLBT 88.1 FM:

If you follow my posts you know by now that I believe in the Light, the Light of the World that is. Light symbolizes so much. It dispels the darkness. It reveals the truth. And it shows us the Way.

“Jesus spoke to the people and said, ‘I am the light of the world.'”

Words, Thoughts, and Actions

You choose – your words, thoughts, and actions. They will keep you on the path with the Light at the End.

Your Words

I’ve had an experience more than once that proves to me that we take on the “words” of those we are around. Many, and I do mean many, years ago I worked at a sign company. I was a graphic layout artist. There were some interesting employees there. They were the salt of the earth, rock salt.  Up until that time I never used foul language, never. Curse words flew there like birds. And before long I found myself slipping into their habits. Just one week before school started I was hired for my first teaching job and I left the sign company to teach in a middle school. It was a major culture shock. Middle school kids are a challenge under the best circumstances. Before long I lost my temper with a seventh-grade boy. The words that came out of my mouth surprised me. Students were aware that I had slipped. Fortunately, it all worked out in my favor. I learned a lesson and it never happened again in my twenty-year teaching career.

Words do matter. And we do choose our words.

Thoughts –     see previous posts:

“Improve Mental Impressions”

“How and Why to Think Positively

Actions

Our thoughts lead to our actions. Another reason why our thoughts are so important. I stress here the major significance of teaching your children how to control their words, thoughts, and actions. As I write this the news of the high school shooting in Sante Fe, Texas is on television. There have been twenty-two school shootings this year. I admit I am distressed, upset, and confused. Even though I know that the shooters have mental issues, I also know in my day children were taught impulse control or how to handle life situations they didn’t like. Weapons were never involved. I don’t mean to oversimplify a complex problem. However, I think maybe we are over complicating this issue. I don’t pretend to have all the answers. I just know as a Tough Old Bird that we’ve lost sight of what should be simple issues. When I was teaching-yes, in another life, a student wearing a large trench coat to school in Texas heat would not be ignored. I recall working on one high school campus where the assistant principal in charge of discipline met every student as they came through the door. If he didn’t like their hair cut or lack of, he sent them home. If the ACLU has created an environment in which we can’t enforce common sense rules, I think we have a problem that will cost more lives.

Related post – “How to Take Bad News”

I am a Certified Professional Coach and I hold a degree from Lamar University in Speech and a Master’s from the University of Texas. I married Sam after raising three children as a single mother. I was an educator in regular and special education for twenty years, finishing my professional career as a Braille teacher. In 2007 I founded SMORE for Women. SMORE is a nonprofit association whose goal is Single Moms, Overjoyed, Rejuvenated, and Empowered. My stories have been published in several Christian books and magazines. My Website