The Power of a Few Kind Words

When Cornerstone eighth-grader Eliana Dickerson wrote to an author whose book had made an impact on her, she never imagined her simple words would mean so much to someone else. Her story is a beautiful reminder that encouragement doesn’t have to be complicated, and that God can use our words in ways we may never see. 

After finishing The One and Only Bob by Katherine Applegate, Eliana decided to write to the author. She loved the book and wanted to tell Applegate how much it meant to her. So she wrote a letter, put it in the mail, and waited.

And waited.

Almost a whole year went by.

So when Eliana finally received a letter back from Applegate, she was surprised. She certainly wasn't expecting a response after so much time had passed.

But what Applegate wrote back made the wait worth it.

She told Eliana that writing books can sometimes be frustrating and lonely. And then she told her something Eliana didn't expect: her letter meant the world to her.

Eliana was simply doing what readers do. She loved a book and wanted to tell its author. She probably didn't think her words would make a huge difference. But they did.

And isn't that so often how encouragement works?

We don't always know what someone else is carrying. We don't know if the person sitting next to us is having a hard day, questioning whether their work matters, or simply needs someone to remind them that they are seen.

But God does.

Throughout Scripture, we are reminded of the power of our words. Proverbs 16:24 tells us, “Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” And Ephesians 4:29 reminds us to use our words to build others up according to their needs.

Eliana's story is such a simple, beautiful picture of that.

She thought she was just writing a letter about a book she loved. Instead, she ended up encouraging the person who wrote it.

Something else stood out to Eliana. Applegate's response made her think differently about the amount of time and effort authors put into their work. She began to see the person behind the pages.

Maybe that's a good reminder for all of us.

There are people all around us who are pouring themselves into something, teaching a class, leading a team, creating something, serving behind the scenes, raising children, encouraging a friend, and sometimes they simply need to know that someone notices.

We don't need to have the perfect words. We don't need to make a grand gesture.

Sometimes, we need to say, I see you. Thank you. What you're doing matters.

Eliana's letter took only a few minutes to write. She had no idea where it would go or whether she would ever hear back.

But God knew.

And maybe that's the encouragement we all need today. Don't underestimate the power of a few faithful words. 

As we live out this year’s theme, Love God and Love Others, let’s look for the opportunities God places in front of us to speak life into the people around us. You never know how much someone may need to hear it.   

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Upcoming Opportunities to Connect & Encourage

• 3-Week New Elementary Family Check-In: This is a great opportunity for current Cornerstone families to connect with and encourage new families as they get settled into the school year. Join us tomorrow, Aug. 27, 8:30 - 9:30 a.m in the Cornerstone Den. 
• Middle School Retreat: What a great opportunity for parents to come alongside our middle school students during retreat! Parent volunteers will help support and encourage our students throughout the retreat while being part of this special experience. Students will also have opportunities to encourage one another and build connections through the day’s activities.