Here we are in October already! Looking forward to hayrides and sweet cider, long walks looking at the gorgeous leaves turning yellow, orange, red, and that pretty “burnt” color. The air is cooler but the sun is still hot….and now….the flower of the season is popping up in front of all the neighborhood houses – MUMS! The creative ones have planted them so well that they come up each year adoring the colors of autumn. Most, though, were recently bought and sitting pretty in a container on the front steps. We like our FALLS in Ohio. Just don’t blink to quickly because they don’t last long!(nothing like throwing away a mushy old pumpkin or gourd!)

Why did I entitle this blog “MUMS” THE WORD? Do you think I am planning on rattling off more information about this time of year? If so, NOT SO! There is a twist and a quick left turn right around the corner!!! I would like to now put your focus on the word WORDS. Words are much more important than most people think! Words can change the course of your life!!! I would like to start out with asking a question: “Who do you SAY you are?” Some people may answer that question with “I am a woman or I am a man.” Others would talk about their profession “I am a plumber or I am a roofer.” I will never forget during one of our first Creative Writing Groups when the leader said “If you want to be a writer, you must acknowledge that you are a writer. You need to say ‘I am a writer'” Okay, “I am a writer”. Do you swim? You can say “I am a swimmer.” But the best part about this is the more you say it, the more you become it because the more you say it the more you believe it!

This concept is used frequently in the mental health classes that I teach. We call them “Affirmations”. If you have a low opinion of yourself then tape a few affirmations on your mirror and say them everyday out loud whether you believe them or not! Write something like “I am a lovely person.” or “People like to be around me.” or “I am smart!” Repeat it daily until it BECOMES you! Do not concern yourself about what others say to you, good or bad because if taken too seriously you may BECOME what THEY said you were! (this is especially true if you were mocked as a child)! Let GOOOOOOO of any and all negative words that may have been spoken over you! Decide who YOU want to be and BE IT! I will tell you a quick story. I did not think I was smart until I had a fun-filled weekend with my sisters. I was kind of “WOWED” with the awareness of how smart they were. When I got home, I thought, well, if they are smart, than that means I just may be too because we have the same genes! What a revelation THAT was for the insecure only-one-mentally-ill sister.

The understanding of how important words are is emphasized many times throughout the Bible. This scripture is one of my all time favorites because it is one of the all times most difficult to do: Ephesians 4:29 “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of my mouth-only that it may edify and minister grace to the hearer.” My, oh, My! This can translate into “Don’t talk to a person unless you have something positive to say.” Matthew 12:37 says “By your words are you justified and by your words you are condemned.” Galations 6:7 says “Be not deceived, God is not mocked for whatsoever a man

speaks

that he will also reap.” Okay, here we go into Proverbs. I love Proverbs because a lot of them were written by the wisest man on the planet in biblical times – King Solomon! Give us some wisdom, there King! Proverbs 18:4 “The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters, but the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.” 18:7 “A fool’s mouth is his undoing, and his lips are a snare to his soul.” 17:4 “A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar pays attention to a malicious tongue.” 12:14 “From the fruit of his lips a man is filled with good things, as surely as the work of his hands rewards him.” 13:3 “He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.” Here is a BIG one: 18:21 “The tongue has the power of life and death!” SOOOOOO ,the moral of the story is WATCH YOUR WORDS…………and as far as the whole MUMS THE WORD concept: Proverbs 17:28 “Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.” Yeah, right on “MUMS THE WORD” to look wise!!!

Love and Blessings to all who read this! Nanette