Suddenly, uncontrollable tears streamed down my face as pent-up emotions surfaced. I reached for a tissue while tears flowed, and relief flooded me. God uncovered the dreadful memory of a critique where someone’s harsh criticism plunged me into deep despair. After forgiving her, I thought everything was well, but it didn’t erase the words stuck in my head.

Every year, I’m amazed at how quickly the world wakes up. One morning I walk outside, and the bulbs that looked lifeless just weeks before are suddenly vibrant. Leaves unfurl. Tiny buds appear. Color pushes its way into the world almost overnight. Standing there in the flower bed, I can’t help but marvel at how something dormant can become something beautiful.

We live in a fast-paced world that is increasingly active and noisy. Messages fly over the internet. We speak without contemplating our words or considering the viewpoint of others. It is effortless to respond without giving it a thought. We write words we’d never say face-to-face. Our careless words create misunderstandings. We release words, both spoken and written, that we can’t take back.