Speaking words of life and light

I have been wrestling with how to speak words of life and light to people.  We practice this when we visit with the families.  What do you say and how do you say it?  Before we were to drop off the bed for Kirby, I thought about what I wanted to say and how I wanted to say it.  I wrote Kirby a letter to practice articulating some thoughts I wanted him to know.  I hadn't planned on giving him the letter, but at the last minute decided to.

Here is the letter.

Hello Kirby:


I am looking forward to delivering your bed. I will watch you help us set it up; I anticipate your smile as you lay on it for the first time. My hope is that we will leave you with more than just a comfortable bed. My prayer is that each night, as you lay in your warm bed, you will remember that God and his goodness have come to you.

You see, Kirby, although there is evil, hate, and violence in this world, there is a network of goodness out there, too. You can see this goodness around you if you look carefully. Many people helped to build and pay for your bed because it was a good thing to do. God’s love moved in the hearts of these strangers to show you that he loves you. I hope that you will remember this at times when you are afraid, lonely, or sad.

Thank you for letting us come into your home and visit with you. You are helping us learn to be part of this love and goodness. God’s love motivated us to do this little thing for you. Meeting you helps us experience and understand God better. My desire is that this simple act of kindness will help you, too, experience and understand God better, and that God will move in your heart to show kindness to others.

Sleep well and godspeed, Kirby.

After we finished setting up the beds and visited a bit, I gave him and his mother the letter in a sealed envelope and told them that they could read it later.  The group said thier goodbyes and walked down from their apartment into the parking lot. 

We were mingling around in a sort of circle talking and kind of savoring the moment.  After about 5 minutes, Kirby came out of his apartment and down the stairs,  Without saying anything he came up to me and gave me a hug.  I asked him, "What's this for?"  "The letter," he said.  He then went around the group, giving each of them a hug,  When he was finished, he quietly went back upstairs.

What was that all about?  The hug was spontaneous, even if his mother put him up to it.  I experienced his hug as genuine.  Was there something in the letter that compelled him to connect with us at a deeper level than he had?  Did the letter communicate with him at a deeper level that could not have happened by just giving the bed alone?
When we gave him the bed, he was happy and thankful  When we gave him some words from our heart he was touched by something and was compelled to give us hugs.  Actions and words.  They both communicated something.