Tuesday, April 29, 2014

JUST A NOTE

and so...more on notes that become a lesson in life....

many many years ago there was a silly boy who did a silly thing
to me and a few others
he was so young, a child, but what he did broke the law

he went to court, his parents by his side
the judge was merciful 
and the situation made my heart hurt

so.....
I wrote him a little note that I can barely remember today
along the lines of
"this is a thing that can define you....for the good"

years later...more than 20 to be exact
I saw his mother in the post office and she shared with me
"he put your note on his bulletin board and it stayed there for many years"

today he is a grown man, with a wife and children...a success

OK...I know what you're thinking
but I would never have a smidgen of an idea that MY NOTE
would make a difference?
OR. DID.IT?

No, you see what made the difference---

is the day at the post office 20 years later when that sweet mother said the words to me
thank you for the note you wrote that day...it made a difference

so simple
words
healing words

choose to use them!







20 comments:

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

Amen. I have to come back to comment propderly after work, but I so hear ya, gina. Love, anita

Algodão Tão Doce said...

Que lindo amiga...palavras têm esse poder de edificar!!!Parabéns pela felicidade tal atitude.
Um doce abr abraço, Marie.

Maureen Wyatt said...

Once again we are writing about the same thing. I was thanking people who would never know that they made a difference to someone else. It was wise and kind of you to pen that note and must have been so uplifting to hear that it touched the recipient.

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

Dearest Gina, I came back so I could type off my laptop rather than my small tablet.

Words are so important since we communicate through them, yet because the majority of people use words, these units of sound and syllable are often abused. But when we take it into our hands to write well-penned ideas or encouragement, we are cultivating one of language's greatest functions: to lift up. We never know how our words will bloom. Anita

White Lace and Promises said...

Such a beautiful reminder of the difference we can make in life of a child/teen/person. We had a kid who would hang out at our house and often spend weeks with us because of an alcoholic dad. When he was 16, he left and we rarely saw him. He forgot, or so we thought, all about what we had given. Four years ago we had a 30 year reunion of all the kids who had passed through our youth group. He came back. He has 3 kids and is involved in his church and is a stronger leader. He wrote us the sweetest note about the difference we made in his life. So worth the investment.

NanaDiana said...

WE never know what ripple effect our words will have on someone...today or down the line a bit. How wonderful! That was good news!! xo Diana

Tina@WhatWeKeep said...

Agreed! How special her words were to hear after all that time had passed. xo, T.

carolyn bradford said...

Oh my….you have NO idea how much this post means to me…I am getting my rear end up off the sofa right now and getting my note cards and writing my sweet nephew that is in rehab…I promised my sister I would! I'ts been my goal all day and I just about forgot to do it. He is only 20 and really down and wanting to come home…she asked us all to write him a note just a few days ago. Thank you, thank you, thank you for writing this post.

Row homes and Cobblestones said...

Gina,
A personal note or pretty card are gestures that truly make a difference. Expressions of caring, encouragement or acknowledgement when written down can mean so very much. Written words are powerful. Thank you for sharing your experience.
Vera

Haddock said...

It did make a big difference for him. Small acts do count.

Debbie@Mountain Breaths said...

Love this! It reminds me of the rubber stamped cards I sent to someone battling breast cancer. Years later, she told me that my cards helped get her through that bump in the road.

Optimistic Existentialist said...

This is incredibly inspiring. You made a huge impact on this man's life. Isn't that amazing?? He kept that note as inspiration all of these years. Wow...

designchic said...

You are so right - you just never know the impact that your words or deeds have on other people. Love the quote!

Karena said...

This really moved me GIna...so very true!

xoxo
Karena
The Arts by Karena

Mr Paul said...

Words can travel a such a distance in someone's memory and do such wonderful things. Hope you had a wonderful long weekend gorgeous Gina.

Fashion-isha said...

I love this attitude!
xo
Sharon

Unknown said...

very sweet story. xo Nancy

Marissa said...

Gina,
That was beautiful and so moving.
I always have to remind myself that the words that come out of my mouth might or may impact someones day. so chose the right ones.
Loved this post.

Sarah said...

Gina, thanks for sharing this. Sometimes we have no idea that the simplest of things can make a difference. Wonderful post!

Anajá Schmitz said...

Uma ação ou uma palavras pode mudar a vida de uma pessoa. Que felicidade ver que suas palavras mudaram o rumo da vida dele. Pessoas iluminadas vem para fazer o bem. Parabéns.
Bos tenha uma ótima semana.