Simple Little Words: What You Say Can Change a Life [Hardcover]

Michelle Cox (Author), John Perrodin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2008

Encourage one another…

Words can inspire, encourage, and convey love. They can poke and prod and compel to action. Or they can wound, discourage, and criticize. And what is said—or not said—in the most mundane moment can alter the course of a life…forever.

This collection of touching, true stories, coupled with tips on how to use your words to encourage others, is a poignant reminder of the power of simple little words.

Discover more at www.simplelittlewords.com

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Michelle Cox is the author of Honor Books' Mothers Who Made a Difference and is a frequent contributor to several Focus on the Family magazines. She is a popular speaker, and has been interviewed for Family News in Focus. A member of the Blue Ridge Christian Writers Group, Michelle is also active in local politics. Married over thirty-three years, Michelle and her husband Paul live near Asheville, North Carolina, where they have spent almost thirty years working with teens and singles. They have three grown sons.
John Perrodin is a novelist, researcher, public speaker, and attorney. Currently the senior editor for the Christian Writers Guild (and the orientation speaker for the Guild's writers conference at the Broadmoor each year), Perrodin works full time for best-selling author, Jerry B. Jenkins; he was formerly Special Assistant to Dr. James C. Dobson. He is the co-author of two novels with Jenkins. Perrodin and his wife Sue live in Colorado with their family.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: David C. Cook; New edition (April 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1434799972
• ISBN-13: 978-1434799975
• Product Dimensions: 0.9 x 5.2 x 7.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #245,914 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Simple Little Words with Major Consequences! May 23, 2008

By Kathy C. Willis

Format:Hardcover

I've always said that the playground lyrics, "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me" has it all wrong. Physical wounds heal, but being wounded by words can wound for life. Sometimes, all it takes to make a difference in the lives of others are simple words of affirmation. Authors Michelle Cox and John Perrodin have rounded up experiences from familiar names such as: novelist Karen Kingsbury, Chick-fil-A founder Truett Cathy, and Focus on the Family CEO Jim Daly, to name a few. Each story reflects on the power of encouraging words. Simple Little Words is jam-packed with over 40 true stories--from Christian writers, educators, songwriters, executives, Hollywood producers, and others. Just like I guessed on the playground as a child, little words can make a big difference!

The book shows that it is often what is said spontaneously, on an ordinary day that creates a life transformation needed for the hearer. Michelle shares a story from her childhood. "As a child from a dysfunctional home situation, I had no self-esteem and no self-confidence. On a class field trip one day, a classmate's mom said, `You have the most beautiful green eyes I've ever seen.' To her they were ten simple little words, but to a child who needed to hear there was something of beauty about her, they were life changing. This book is a beautiful reminder that our words are powerful tools."

John explained the takeaway value of the book when he said, "I hope the reader sees that our time on this spinning orb is short. We don't know how many more opportunities we'll have to look a loved one in the eye and say `I'm sorry.' That's the beauty of Simple Little Words. We're not asking anyone to make fancy speeches or write eloquent tomes. All we're asking is that they take the time to speak life, hope, and love to those around them."

I highly recommend this book. In fact, buy several copies because you will want one copy to keep and others to give away to others. It has caused me to want to get in touch with those whose "simple little words" impacted my life in a big way. Some are no longer here on earth, so the only way I can express my gratitude is to pay it forward by sharing simple little words with others.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Simple Little Words... A Book Worth Reading! July 8, 2008

By psalm25v4

Format:Hardcover

Simple Little Words was a book that I did not want to put down, but needed to. A book that I couldn't get enough of, but longed to savor and treasure. Story by story. Page by page. Word for word.

I read stories beginning with hurt and ending with forgiveness, illustrations of confusion flowing into certainty, and pictures of worthlessness transformed into treasures. I wept, laughed, and at moments paused and took a deep breath. In each story I found a piece of myself, parts of me that I could never understand before. Powerful revelations of my past, present, and where I want to be tomorrow.

Thank you John and Michelle for allowing God to minister to my heart and the hearts of others through this book. Thank you to all who shared their precious memories and the simple little words that changed their lives.
I sincerely recommend this book to everyone and encourage you to not only read this book but to follow the study guide that has been so wonderfully put together by John and Michelle. Savor each story as I did and allow these simple little words to touch your heart and soul.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Simple Little Words is a simple little book with a big message--our words are powerful June 22, 2008

By C.J. Darlington

Format:Hardcover

Think back to a time when someone's encouraging words had a strong impact on your life. Was it a trusted teacher saying you were going to do great things someday? A parent telling you they loved you? A boss' "job well done"? Positive words reach into our very souls and can be remembered years down the road.

Simple Little Words is a collection of insightful stories by the likes of Karen Kingsbury, Brandon Heath, Mary E. DeMuth, Ron DiCianni and Ken Wales (40 in all). Through these vignettes Perrodin & Cox bring home the Biblical truth of word power. What we say to others makes an impact, often in life-changing ways. And we need to choose our words wisely, because even without saying so, Simple Little Words reminds us that negative words can impact us forever, too.

It's not often a book makes me tear up, but you'd have to be a mannequin not to be moved by these examples of Christianity in action. Michelle Cox's "You Look Like A Princess" is particularly poignant, the story of how one woman's act of kindness to a child changed the girl's life in ways the woman could have never known at the time.

Other stories bring home the fact that sometimes adverse situations can be exactly God's plan. For example, speaker and author Edna Ellison's story of her daughter's almost disastrous wedding led her down a path which gave purpose to a lonely old man. Hollywood producer Ken Wales (Amazing Grace) shares words of advice he never forgot from actor Glenn Ford. "If you're early, you're on time. If you're on time, you're late. If you're late, you're fired."

The vignettes are categorized by subjects like Joy, Marriage, Grace, Divorce, Dreams, and Children, a way to know going in what sort of take-away to expect. Ranging from several pages to a few paragraphs, all are easily readable. The whole book could be consumed in one sitting but is better in small chunks so you can digest the individual messages. Each story concludes with a short prayer and quote to further bring things home for readers.

Simple Little Words is indeed a simple little book with a big message--our words are powerful. As James shares in the New Testament, the tongue is like a rudder. Small and seemingly insignificant, yet able to change the course of our world. What you say truly can change a life. That's a statement every person would do well to assimilate. As best-selling author Jerry B. Jenkins advises in the book's Foreword, "Be the one who speaks those simple little words."

--Reviewed by C.J. Darlington for TitleTrakk