Incredible Gift

Our words are so important. What we say--or write--and how we say it can create healing or inflict pain. As a writer and editor, I make my living with words. I edit hundreds of articles each month for an online service, and do my best to help authors. Sometime I grumble, sometimes I complain. Even so, I always leave comments for the author praising their efforts and wishing them a lovely day or week. I try to personalize if I can, and write words that come from my heart.

Today I received an incredible gift: to know the effect of my words, and how much deeper it goes than I ever imagined. I received the following message from the editorial desk of the online service this morning, containing a message from an author who very much wanted to get in touch with the editor who left comments on a recent article. We edit anonymously, so it is likely this person will never know who I am. This author wrote the following (CE stands for copy editor):

I was wondering if the editorial team would please pass along my gratitude to a CE who edited my most recent article. This particular CE left the kindest note. My sister was killed in a car crash last month and I've been doing my best to write during this time. Of course the CE doesn't know this, but his/her comments made a complete stranger's day so much better. I'd love it if someone would please let this person know.

I wept at these words, at how blessed I am to receive such a gift; at how many times in my past I have wounded others with words; at how many opportunities for healing I might have missed; at my incredible good fortune that I get to keep learning, becoming ever more conscious. What I wrote is less important than its effect. I still want to share the words, in case someone else needs to hear them:

Great article, and a pleasure to edit! Thanks for all your work. Take care, and may the rest of your week prove wonderful beyond all expectations!

Thanks for reading, and may your weekend prove uplifting and fulfilling.

~Love and Blessings,
Selene~