THE HIDDEN VALUE OF OUR WORDS

A few years ago, my dad shared a story from his younger years before he met mom. You see, his father passed away when he was only twelve, and an older brother had died during World War II. Along with his mother and other siblings, everyone had a responsibility to make ends meet. It was a tough time in their family, on the farm, and in our nation’s history. 

After high school graduation, dad worked at a TV/Appliance company. His boss must have seen something special in him because he was encouraged to talk to a military recruiter on his next delivery in town. A short time later, dad enlisted and spent twenty-two years in the military.

Dad's time in the service gave him the ability to leave when called upon, a powerful education beyond books, and an appreciation for history and Asian culture. He often said, “If it wasn’t for the Marine Corps, I don’t know where I’d be today.” Now I knew what he meant.

The question I asked my dad was this: Did you ever contact your boss to let him know how much his advice and encouragement meant? 

His answer was simply: No, I never did. He’s probably long gone by now.

My reply: Yeah, but think about what your words would mean to his family today.

After leaving, I opened a notebook, a journal of sorts, that I keep handy for such occasions. I jotted the conversation down as best I could remember and thought about it on the way home. I wondered what else I did not know about people's lives, including dad's.

We never know how far our stories will reach, and the value of our words may not be realized immediately or for years, like in the case of my dad’s story. And that’s okay. It gave him a moment of pause and reflection. And a wonderful memory for me to hold onto. 

This is but one example of why our stories are important enough to share with others. I’m sure you have many stories of your own, too. Write them. If not now, when?

Tips & Pointers: Always, always keep a ‘Story Ideas’ journal handy. You never know when you’ll think of something you want to write about later; you overhear a catchy phrase or see someone that looks like a character you need to develop, or a parent tells you something you did not know about their life.