day 2 ~ words

in the first year of college, my cousin got married in Bangalore. i was given the honour of reading out a passage from the Bible during the mass. and, the words were imprinted in memory.

"love is patient and kind;

it is not jealous or conceited or proud;

love is not ill-mannered or selfish or irritable;

love does  not keep a record of wrongs;

love is not happy with evil, but is happy with the truth.

love never gives up;

and its faith, hope and patience never fail."

- I Corinthians 13:4-7

sometime later, during a particularly difficult phase, when i was as petulant and stubborn as the circumstances, my mother told me to replace the word love with my name and read it to myself. i don't know if it was time or a miracle, or was it that i changed or did things... 

        i still read it with my name in moments of pettiness.

and, i learn everyday how uplifting words build confidence, how hurtful words bring tears, rash ones lead to stooped shoulders, a funny string of words bring laughter and heartfelt words touch the soul. words. they matter.