Healthy
A
couple of years ago,
after spending two
weeks as a camp
counselor, my daughter
came home with stories about mentoring 5th grade girls. While I was making dinner, she sat at the kitchen table
with two paper plates. “Mom, have
you ever heard of putting paper plates
on your back and having people write
things about you on them? I’d seen a
similar activity done before, but not
with paper plates. “I still have mine
from when I was a camper in 6th grade.
Here it is.”
My daughter handed me her plate
from years before. As I looked at the
Hearts
?Healthy
Homes
by Brenda Yoder, MA,
Education & Prevention Advocate for Elijah Haven Crisis Intervention Center
words, I remembered a young girl
trying to find her way as she entered
middle school. As I looked over the
words people wrote about her, I was
reminded of the impact encouraging
words have on children.
What power there is in a simple
act, a paper plate and some unassuming words. In a world where words are
catapulted into our lives via texts,
blogs, and social media, here were
words of joy and affirmation on a
throw away plate.
As school begins this fall, any adult
who has children in their lives has the
opportunity to powerfully impact a
child’s life with words of encourage-
ment. As I reflected on the paper plate
story, I was reminded of the Power of
Words. How I often fail to share words
of encouragement because I am busy or
tired? How often do I criticize my children instead of encourage? The paper
plate lesson reminded me to be more
generous with simple words, because
they can have power we may never see.
As another school year starts, how
can you encourage your child?
I was blessed to be reminded by
paper plates at my kitchen table. What
about you? Where do you share simple
words of encouragement with children
or adults alike?
Pass the plate, please.
The Hometown Treasure · August ‘13 · pg 9