The Power of Words...

After a photo session this morning and a commercial this afternoon, I was looking back through my photos in my facebook photo album. One thing I have not included in my book yet are some of the things other people have said when commenting on my photos, and I wanted to make sure that I saved their comments. In no particular order, here are some of the words of encouragement that friends and acquaintances have left for me:

 

"Go, Ed!" - Mark Shimeal, November 6, 2009 (college roommate)

 

"Oh my goodness! You almost don't even look like the same person!" - Sandy George (friend)

 

"Who are you and what have you done with my brother?" - Kim Stady (my sister)

 

"I couldn't believe how awesome you look, when I saw you this past weekend! Praying for you every day!" - Linda Keffer - music evangelist's wife

 

"You're doing great... keep it up!" - Skip Braswell, season 1 winner

 

"You look amazing!!! You are doing awesome!" - Rebecca Kitchens, former teen from my youth group

 

"You look absolutely amazing!!!!! WOW!!! I am so thrilled for you!! Now, the real hard part will be keeping it off. But I know you will." - Jenny Gottschalk, high school classmate

 

"WOW! Just WOW! You look great and I'm soooo impressed by anyone with that kind of will power" -  Liz Hill, NBC Augusta news anchor

 

"uhmmm.ok....you can stop now! :) you look amazing!" - Liz Hill (again)

 

"Ed... you look great brother... great work... I am glad that you have the support and adoration of many friends, family and NBC..." - Barry Allison, blue team trainer

 

"Awesome!!!!! SOOO PROUD to share the WINNER's stage with YOU!!!"- Kristy Youngblood, season 1 winner

 

"Eddie ~ I'm still amazed when I see these pictures side-by-side. It's such a remarkable change! You should be so proud of yourself and I know that you've been an encouragement to so many others." - Sheila Hiler, friend from college

 

So many others have left notes, emailed me, texted me, and snail-mailed me their best wishes and compliments; I want to tell all of you who may read your comments here that your words of encouragement kept me going through the entire process. This, of course, does not include the weekly encouragement by so many in my Lumpkin Road Baptist Church family... you guys are the best!

 

I am living proof of the power of words; it's a lesson we could all stand to learn. Before you tear someone down with your words, understand that you may be impacting their life, for the rest of their life. Choose carefully.