Defining Your Words

We all have our own lexicons – a dictionary of words which we define in a particular way.  For example, Danny wanting to celebrate a friend’s birthday went to the local food bank and asked if they would donate a cake.  He was given a six inch round chocolate double decker, oozing with caramel, swirling with butter cream and shaved white chocolate.  Although one could find this cake at her local Publix grocery store, Danny described the sugary decadence as “the kind you would find at a rich person’s party.” 

In his economy, this cake was fancy and meant for the socially elite, while for others in the room, it was simply an afternoon snack.  It made me think, how do I define words such as “rich,” “success,” “greatness,” or even “failure.”  Understanding your personal lexicon makes a difference. It impacts the choices you make and what you believe about yourself.  I’ve had to learn to re-define words in my life.  Often definitions are borrowed and we spend more time comparing ourselves then living to the fullest.  Success for some might mean enjoying the fruit of monetary affluence, for others it may mean forfeiting six figures and a comma in order to raise a child.  Greatness may mean earning a title, a prefix or receiving a statue on a stage, while for others it may simply be speaking a kind word to a stranger with no reward in return.

Many of us look to media to help us define our words, and when we fall woefully short of the definitions we see, we feel defeated.  Perhaps we need to examine the words in our lexicons and put them in context with our Creator.  “Rich” might be defined as the person who is full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self control.  “Success” might be defined as the person who exercises wisdom with grace on a daily basis.  “Greatness” in action might be humility shown by putting another before one’s own self.  And, “failure,” well, as long as we get up and try again, does not even have a place among the other words.  Today, examine your lexicon.  Decide if perhaps your words need to be re-defined and re-aligned.  In so doing you may just find you are much better off than you thought.

Comments

[Ginny Mink]

I can really appreciate where this piece ended up. It reads like a devotional, though I am not sure if that was your purpose.

[Jennifer Fonseca]

Thanks Ginny. I'm not sure how I intended it - devotional or otherwise. I had a friend tell me I should write a devotional book - what do you think? You wrote one. What are your words of wisdom?