Say.

I had a remarkable childhood. I am humbled and I am blessed. It wasn’t perfect. Yet, it was happy. 

Truthfully, I was seldom sad as a child. My grandparents lived until I was in my early thirties. Besides my great grandmother’s death when I was a Kindergartner, I didn’t experience death until I was in junior high.  

I think my parents did well as parents. They were legitimate Christians. They were loving. They were fair. 

One rule at our house was the freedom to say what we felt. As long as it was said in the right way, and was bathed in respect, I spoke from my heart. I suspect my giftedness with words stem from a childhood where I was taught and required to choose my words carefully. 

I wish our nation would follow my parents’ rules. Say how we feel but choose our words wisely. Be mindful of how we say what we want to say while extending respect to those within hearing distance. 

We can say the right thing the wrong way. There is never a right way to say the wrong thing. Life isn’t solely a matter of having the right to our opinion. What matters is how, when, and where we share our opinion. Most especially, how. 

Instead of a bible verse, please allow me to share the words from one of my favorite secular songs:

”Say you, say me 

Say it for always

That's the way it should be

Say you, say me 

Say it together, naturally”

Some people may be turned off since I didn’t quote scripture but chose something secular instead. Another lesson I learned from my parents was that God has the power to use whatever He wants to say whatever He has to say.