Emotional Responses

I'm in a reflective mood. What emotional response do you have to this picture? Does it create a feeling of homey comfort? Memories of time spent with one you love? The fragrance of chocolate chip cookies? Emotional responses can come from many stimuli. It's fun and insightful to observe a picture such as this one and then create a scene in your mind of the before and after to the illustration. What can you learn about yourself by spending time analyzing your responses? If something as simple as a picture can create strong emotional reactions, how much more could words or actions of a friend or acquaintance? Or the words and actions that you portray towards another? Gary Smalley has written a book called "The Blessing". In it he shares the power of words and how what we say and how we say it can shape the lives of those around us. Through thoughtful analysis of our own words, we can create powerful word-pictures that incite a positive emotional response from our spouse, children, friends, and acquaintances. What a responsibility words become when viewed from this perspective. Words as a blessing, rather than a curse, make the world a better place. As scripture says, "a word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver." Proverbs 25:11. May my words be golden apples of blessing today!