by Anusha Atukorala
Have you seen my tongue tricks?
When I was growing up, my family was often entertained by them—I could even touch my nose with my tongue! In fact, I still can! I stopped writing now to take a few pictures to prove its truth to you, but ... the photos didn't look decent enough to be aired before your little eyes, so I shall wait a bit longer to satisfy your curiosity.
Recently, a verse in Proverbs spoke to me.
"A soothing tongue is a tree of life."
Proverbs 15:4
As I read these words, I pictured a sweet young Mum rocking her baby boy on her knee. He's fallen and grazed his knee and his loud wails fill the air. Gently, she wipes his tear-stained cheeks and washes the scrape on his knee.
“Shh… it’s all right. It’s going to be fine, Sweetie!”
Soon … his sobs
die down. One last gulp and then, the flash of an angelic little-boy smile! He has calmed down. Made whole ... through a soothing tongue.
When I have
been badly in need of them, gentle words uttered by family and friends have been like
cool breezes fanning a sad heart, a soft shawl around my shoulders on a cold
day or a gift that never stops giving. They’ve also been a tree of life. I am able to sit content under the shade of its leafy
branches.
A soothing tongue
blesses. And we writers have power—the power to wield our pen and our tongues
for good, power to bring encouragement and hope to sorrow-filled hearts, power to
entertain and bring smiles to faces (and even a tear or two), power to instil
courage and joy into lives that are hurting, power to bequeath a renewed perspective
of God and His world to enhance a reader’s life.
In Genesis and Revelation we see references to The Tree of Life. Now that is something worth waiting for, isn’t it? Meanwhile, as we wait, in Proverbs we find four comparisons to the tree of life, all life-giving commodities—
We Christian writers need wisdom. Lots of it. Wisdom about life, wisdom about how to best use the language, wisdom about our readers and how they will engage with us, wisdom about how to write well.
Wisdom is everything.
Or is it?
What then does a tree comprise of? Roots, a trunk, branches, leaves, flowers and fruit. Can we writers be trees of life? We can grow roots that go deep into God and His word, a trunk that stands tall against the enemy’s punches, branches that spread far and wide to share our good news with the world, flowers that bring pleasure to life-seeking hearts, leaves that bring healing to the nations and fruit that provides succour, strength, hope and nourishment to those who hunger for it.
The last reference to a tree of life in the
Proverbs is about our dreams. Now, dreams are what we writers have plenty of—some
obvious, like a lolly bulging in little girl’s cheek as she unsuccessfully tries to hide it
from her Mum's watchful eye. Others nestling in our hearts as they are slowly birthed to life
through our Master’s gentle touch.
What kind of longings are in your heart today, dear writerly friend? To publish a book? To sell your books? To be a good speaker? To write good stories? To create a blog? Or maybe you have many other dreams tucked in your beautiful heart that are waiting to be realised.
May every longing in your heart see the light of day.
May you be a tree of life, roots going deep into God, standing tall, providing rest and shelter to all who come under the branches of your life-giving words!
Anusha’s been on many interesting detours in life, as a lab technician, a computer programmer, a full time Mum, a full time volunteer, a charity director, a full time job chaser, until one golden day (or was it a dark moonless night?) God tapped her on her shoulder and called her to write for Him. She has never recovered from the joy it brought her. She loves to see others enjoying life with Jesus and does her mite to hurry the process in her world through her writing and through her life. The goodness of God is her theme song through each season, as she dances in the rain with Jesus.
Her first book 'Enjoying the Journey' contains 75 little God stories that will bring you closer to your Creator. Her second book 'Dancing in the Rain' brings you hope and comfort for life's soggy seasons. Her third book 'Sharing the Journey' is a sequal to Enjoying the Journey also containing little stories that warm the heart.
Thank you for sharing her journey by reading this blog today!
Do stop by at her two websites to say G’day!
She'd love to connect with you.
Dancing in the Rain: To purchase Book
Sharing the Journey: To purchase Book
Thanks for sharing those beautiful words, Anusha. Your words are always an encouraging tree of life. A few days ago, I put a link on Facebook to a good news story. It was something that made me smile, and a few others also made positive comments about it. Then yesterday, one of my acquaintances on Facebook put a really negative response (not to me but very critical of the news story I'd put up). I tried to put a positive response, but she responded with an even more negative reply. In the grand scheme of things, the news story I linked to was not earth-shattering. But with everything going on in the world today, we could use some inspiration, a kind word, and stories that make us smile. Our words are so important in bringing life, lifting up, and pointing to Jesus. Thanks for sharing. And I did shoot up a little prayer for that lady, that God would show her his love.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much dear Nola for taking the time to read and comment. And thanks for the encouragement too. Likewise your words too are a tree of Life. That's for sure. I'm so sorry to hear about what happened with your news story. I do agree that with all that's happening - we all do need stories that make us smile. Good on you for sending a prayer for that lady. Who knows but that she is really in need of it - and God used this situation for you to lift her up in prayer. Bless you my friend for all you do to make the world a brighter place and to shelter us under the tree of life of your writing!
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