From Thoughts to Words

It was a last-second decision. So much so that my back tire hit the curb!

I found a coffee gift card in my wallet the other day and as I was nearing the coffee shop, I decided today was the day. Why on a 79 degree day I felt the need to get coffee, I’m not so sure. Especially since I’m not one to “go get coffee” on the regular.

I requested my typical 16 oz. decaf teddy bear, pulled around the building, and met a lady whose first impression told me she was having a good day. Or if she wasn’t she knew how to wear joy. I passed along my gift card and as she was ringing it up, I glanced in the rearview mirror and the back of my hair was standing straight up; yikes! I thought about licking my hand, but knew that wasn’t the best choice, while still being susceptible to sicknesses. Standing in the cupholder was my water bottle, realizing water was my solution to tame the mane.

As the barista returned the card to me, she looked me in the eyes and said, “I really like your hair! Those types of cuts are hard to pull off, but you really look pretty in it!” Feeling surprised by the comment, I vulnerably replied, “I actually had cancer and lost it all”. She firmly stood by her comment, repeating it again, and wished me well on my journey. And I drove away in tears.

We all think 1,000s and 1,000s of thoughts a day. Some positive, some negative, some factual, some irrational. We have thoughts about something and often everything. Something I have been challenging myself with lately is if I have a positive thought about someone, tell them! Right then and there. Or if you have to wait til you have a quiet moment, so be it. But don’t let the thought slip away. What if God gave you that thought for the very purpose of passing it on TO that person? What if you were the messenger, but chose to not deliver it?

That barista chose to speak her thoughts. To pass on the message. And it spoke life into someone who battles with the ins and outs of losing my hair because of chemo. I may not look and feel like myself, yet, but God used that barista’s thoughts, that she chose to put into words, to remind me that beauty can still be found, even with really short hair.

What encouraging thought have you had about someone, but you kept to yourself? What if next time, you texted, emailed, or called them? It doesn’t have to be anything grand and glorious. Just a simple, “Hey, was thinking about you today and I think…” A text takes 15-30 seconds at most. But the impact could be life-changing.

Now I know why I came in hot into the coffee shop. I was meant to be there in that moment because God wanted to give me a word of encouragement through the barista. Don’t hold onto your thoughts. Say what’s on your mind. You never know what it might do in that person’s life!