Janell Rardon - Overcoming Hurtful Words: Rewrite Your Own Story

Praise for Overcoming Hurtful Words

Overcoming Hurtful Words opens a very important conversation about the power of your words and how youve been wounded by others. The nine practices Janell Rardon outlines will empower you to let go of any negative narratives so that you can gain a healthy sense of self and the communication skills you need for a rich, meaningful life.

Georgia Shaffer, M.A., psychologist, professional life coach, author of Taking Out Your Emotional Trash

In Overcoming Hurtful Words, Janelle Rardon does more than help us get over words that wound; she teaches us to actually rewrite the stories of who we are with a God who loves us and sees beyond those words to the truth of who we are.

Kathi Lipp, best-selling author of Overwhelmed

Despite the pain of past wounds (words), the heart has an expansive capacity and potential to live out its God-breathed purpose. YOU too can share in this amazing testimony of a life story re-written!

Daphne Delay, author of Facing the Mirror, Facing God, and Facing the Enemy

In Overcoming Hurtful Words, Janell Rardon shows firsthand how love transforms hurt and woundedness into hope and healing. Read these words and let this process encourage you to find new joy in your life!

Rosemary Trible, author of Fear 2 Freedom, founder of Fear 2 Freedom (F2F)

Janells deep faith and her passion for helping others heal is evident in her book, Overcoming Hurtful Words. She beautifully integrates Scripture with the tools of reflection, reframing, and re-authoring hurtful words as she guides us on a transformational path to freedom.

Becky VanValin, MSW, counselor, author, international speaker

Overcoming Hurtful Words is full of Christian-based guidance for how to turn a negative narrative of experiences into a Christ-guided positive destiny. This book is a powerful tool, indeed!

Dr. Antipas L. Harris, president of the Urban Renewal Center

Author Janell Rardon shares practical steps, grounded in biblical truth. This is a book youll return to again and again.

Edie Melson, award-winning author of While My Child Is Away

Janells writing style creates an environment where the reader feels loved and supported through the process of examining hurtful situations. As a pastor, I know this book will help so many women on the journey of healing.

Rev. Stephanie Parker, New Creation United Methodist Church, Chesapeake, Virginia

Overcoming Hurtful Words helps wounded people reconstruct the negative narratives of their lives. Be ready to soar on wings like eagles!

Pastor Jim and Sheryl Wood, First Presbyterian Church of Norfolk

Overcoming Hurtful Words is a symphony of passion and practicality, encouraging and equipping women to move beyond the hurts of the past to transform their lives through the power of Scripture.

Rev. Valena Hoy, Associate Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Norfolk, Virginia

OVERCOMING
hurtful
WORDS

OVERCOMING
hurtful
WORDS

Rewrite Your Own Story

JANELL RARDON

Copyright 2017 by Janell Rardon.

Published by Worthy Inspired, an imprint of Worthy Publishing Group, a division of Worthy Media, Inc., One Franklin Park, 6100 Tower Circle, Suite 210, Franklin, TN 37067.

WORTHY is a registered trademark of Worthy Media, Inc.

Helping people experience the heart of God.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Rardon, Janell, author.

Title: Overcoming hurtful words : rewrite your own story / Janell Rardon.

Description: Franklin, TN : Worthy Inspired, 2017.

Identifiers: LCCN 2017034912 | ISBN 9781683970507 (paperback)

Subjects: LCSH: Christian life. | Healing--Religious aspects--Christianity. | Self-esteem--Religious aspects--Christianity. | Self-realization--Religious aspects--Christianity. | BISAC: RELIGION / Christian Life / Personal Growth. | SELF-HELP / Personal Growth / Self-Esteem.

Classification: LCC BV4501.3 .R37 2017 | DDC 248.8/6--dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017034912

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. | Scripture quotations marked (VOICE) are from The Voice. Copyright 2008 by Ecclesia Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved. | Scripture quotations marked (MSG) are from The Message. Copyright 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. | Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. | Scripture quotations marked (NKJV) are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. | Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV Copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. | Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. | Scripture quotations marked (NASB) are from The New American Standard Bible, Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. | Scripture quotations marked (TLB) are from The Living Bible. Copyright 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. | Scripture quotations marked (AMP) are taken from the Amplified Bible. Copyright 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any otherexcept for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

*Authors Note: I have tried to recreate events, locales, and conversations from my memories of them. To maintain their anonymity, in some instances I have changed the names of individuals and places. I may have also changed some identifying characteristics and details such as physical properties, occupations, and places of residence.

ISBN: 978-1-68397-050-7

Hearts, Grudge, and Love graphics designed: Terri Podlenski, MA | SmartCreativeLab.com

Cover design Bruce Gore | GoreStudio.com

Cover art: Shutterstock, iStock

Page layout: Bart Dawson

Printed in the United States of America

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Dedicated to the love of my life, Roband to one of our favorite places on earth, the Outer Banks of North Carolina (OBX).

So long ago, while floating on a surfboard, we dreamed of a life together. We could not have known at the time what God had in mind. While beachcombing, building sandcastles, and braving Jockeys Ridge, we raised three of the most remarkable childrenCandace, Brooke, and Grant. Waves have crashed against our little family, yet we have weathered the storms and come through stronger, wiser, and healthier.

When I was caught in the riptide of my crushing heartrift, your strong hand saved me. If the sand dunes of our heartlifting two-hundred-mile coastline could tell our story, they would say, Many waters cannot quench love, nor can rivers drown it (Song of Solomon 8:7 NLT).