Words are all we have

 When my friend went missing a person whom I had only met was very kind and supportive to me. Our paths continued to cross for a number of weeks after I first turned to him, due to my job. And the support continued throughout. During my last trip up there, knowing it was the end of my work up there, I gave him a thank you card. The day after I gave it to him he mentioned that he had read it that morning. I told him that the words I wrote seemed inadequate and that I would never truly be able to express how grateful I was to him for his support. He made reference to the Bee Gees song, 'Words' and how words are all we have. Instantly this got me thinking. 

Are words really all we have to express how grateful we are to people in our lives? We express our thanks with gifts or maybe buying someone coffee or lunch etc. The best way to thank a friend for their support is to spend time with them I think, actions speak louder than words. Thinking of how grateful I was and still am to this person for his support, words and a couple of small gifts (not forgetting the sultanas) are only a token of my appreciation. My time on Lough Derg was overshadowed with sadness as my friend went missing and was found deceased weeks later. Without his support and even his humour I would not have got through my time on Lough Derg so well. He showed such kindness to me, a stranger. He is a perfect example of living out the Gospel message, 'I was a stranger and you welcomed me' (Mt 25:35). I really hope and pray that he knows just how grateful I am for his support. I will never stop saying thank you because I feel words are inadequate.

My point. Yes, sometimes words are all that we have. Let us use our words wisely and do not be afraid to say thank you and to really mean it. To us our words might seem inadequate but essentially words are all we have. Trust that our words are enough. Say thank you by your actions too.