four
FOUR-LETTER WORDS are words constructed of four letters. They are perfectly good, usually innocent words. Some four-letter words come with baggage that weighs down their meaning. Often there is negativity, discomfort or stigma assigned to such otherwise
letter word
interesting and usable words. As we reconsider these words and address them openly, perhaps we can reclaim these words for their contribution to our lives.
TONY CORDOZA/GETTY IMAGES
There’s a lot of taking one can do.
Take a break. Do a double take. Take it easy. Take the high road. Take it or leave it. Take no prisoners. Take a dive. Take a hike. Take all that you can get. Take the cake. Take over. Take cover. Take my word for it. Take it from the top. Take time for yourself. Take offense. Take aim. Take a bow. Take a spin. Take care.
And a lot of confusion regarding what’s appropriate. We know we shouldn’t take more than we give. But should we give more than we take? Or give until we have nothing left to give? And if we do the latter, aren’t we taking leave of our senses? There’s a fine line that separates giving and taking. Sometimes we need to be the giver, and sometimes the taker. But how do we know what to do when? The confusion often results in a lot of giving and not much taking, which leads to selfsacrifice on a grand scale. When did self-care become synonymous with “selfish”? And what’s wrong with taking a break? A timeout? Or time for yourself? Wise women know that it’s impossible to give what we ourselves do not possess. To be tuned into what we most have to give, we must first take an inventory and continually take things to heart. Doing so allows us to fully embrace the idea that our greatest potential for growth comes from capitalizing on our strengths rather than trying to overcome or compensate for our weaknesses. To contribute in a meaningful way, we must take control of any negative self-talk, reminding ourselves that we are children of the King and that God doesn’t make junk. And that taking care doesn’t just have to mean looking after others. We can care for ourselves, too. After all, “… Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” (Luke 5:16) Here’s to taking a break. ■
CLICK HERE
Share your thoughts! SUMMER 2010
www. FullFill .org
33