The Power of Positive Words

My nephew loves basketball. In fact, ever since he was a little boy, basketball has been his thing. He watches it. Studies it. Practices it. Plays it whenever he can. He truly loves the game.

Last weekend, he and his Rec. League team played for the Rec. League championship. In the first game of the tournament, they trailed the entire game until close to the end when they took their opponents into overtime and eventually won the game. In the second game of the tournament, they trailed the entire game until close to the end when they pulled ahead and won. And in the third game of the tournament, they did the same thing: they stayed behind the whole game until the end of the game, when they squeaked ahead and won by only 2 points. Needless to say, the games were very intense. And, honestly, I think that everyone was surprised that they pulled off the win!

My nephew himself was especially concerned about the last game. His team was playing the #1 team in the league and they were missing one of their best players. As we left the second game, my nephew mentioned that he didn’t think his team could win the next night without the full team. I told him that I believed they could win regardless (because I did). I told him that I hoped that he would go out and play like he believed they could win—not to defeat himself with negative self-talk. Evidently, my dad told him the same thing, and my mom sent him a text saying similar things the day of the championship game.

So after the third game was over, I found it incredibly sweet and humbling to hear my nephew say to me, in his deep, changing voice: I kept hearing you and Nana and Poppy telling me not to give up—to believe that we could win—and we did!

Friends: It may seem like people aren’t listening, but they are. And we never know the impact of our words to influence a situation for the better (or worse).

May we be a people of uplifting, kind, true, and encouraging words. And may we hold to positive words over negative ones, especially in a culture that thrives on negativity and fear.

Amen and amen.