The Power of a Woman's Words by Sharon Jaynes will inspire women (and men) to choose their words carefully because this book illustrates the potent influence a woman's words can have in the lives of others.
Jaynes is one of the three women who comprise GIRLFRIENDS IN GOD (GIG), the non-denominational ministry that specializes in encouraging females in their spiritual life. I signed up for GIG daily devotional emails about three months ago, and that's how I came across this book. Jaynes' writing style in both the daily messages and in this book is both pleasingly lyrical in some sentences, and at other times refreshingly straight-forward, in a "let's be honest, girlfriend to girlfriend" format.
The author uses Biblical references, stories from people she's met over the years, personal anecdotes, and quotes by both famous and unknown individuals, in examples that show how just a few words have the power to either rip apart another person's measure of worth or to build up a human being's level of confidence and self-esteem.
I try to never say things that I personally would be upset about if someone were to say the same thing to me—the problem is that I define myself as pretty "thick-skinned." It's taken me a long time to realize that just because something might not bother me, it would probably injure at least about 50% or more of the people I know because they are not as "unaffected " by particular words or actions as I am. Sharon Jaynes' book has helped to remind me that my words do play a vital role in both how other people feel about themselves and how those people, due to my choice of words, feel about me.
Those individuals who mean the most to me are the ones who I most definitely want to watch what I say when I speak to them. The Power of a Woman's Words has five chapters highlighting how words can affect these "most special to me" individuals, and even gives examples of specific do use/don't use phrases when we address these people in our lives: our children, spouses, friends, fellow believers and God. A sixth chapter under this subsection of "The People We Impact," includes an area that will have the farthest-reach: this chapter is titled, "The Power of a Woman's Words to the World."
The other two sections of this motivating book are "The Power We Possess" and "The Potential to Change," which includes chapters such as "The Potency of Silence" and "The Profound Possibilities."
Since I am a writer, I love how Jaynes sprinkles quotes throughout her book not only from Scripture, but also by well-known poets and writers, and even "unknown" authors. The particular quotes she uses bring home the point of each section in the book in which the quote is included. Some of my favorite quotes and passages Jaynes used, including her own "quoted" words were:
"Let the wife make the husband glad to come home, and let him make her sorry to see him leave." -- Martin Luther
"Your words become the mirror in which others see themselves." -- Sharon Jaynes
"With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be." -- James 3:9-12 TNIV
"I seldom feel sorry for the things I did not say." -- Author Unknown
I recommend this book not only to Christians who search for ways to become more like the person God intended them to be, but for any mom, dad, husband, wife, friend, family member, and to any and every person who strives to bring about the best in others and to cause the least amount of damage (intentional or unintentional) to those who share with them this awesome world God created.