Words Have Power

From Dr. Bushman -

Today, I walked into Walmart and was reminded of the significance of words. As I entered the store, I noticed a family ahead of me and greeted them. Moments later, the wife returned and said:

“I don’t know if you remember me, but I saw you as a patient about three years ago.”

I didn’t recall the visit, but she did. She shared that during our appointment, she was overwhelmed, stressed, and anxious, seeking medication to cope. According to her, I said something like:

“I have the authority to prescribe this medication, but I want you to consider whether this is truly what you need right now or if this moment is inviting you to reframe your crisis through a spiritual lens.”

She mentioned I reminded her of Job—not in a dismissive way, but as a call back to her faith. After our conversation, she went home, prayed, and that moment became pivotal in her life. It helped her dig deeper spiritually, reframe her suffering, and grow in ways she still remembers three years later.

She told me, “I told my husband that if I ever saw you again, I was going to thank you.”

I had seen her once, three years ago, and today she gave me a gift I didn’t know I needed. I stood there with tears in my eyes, simply thanking her for sharing her story.

Recently, a medical student asked how to incorporate faith into medical practice. My answer was: it starts with knowing your patients—not projecting your beliefs, not forcing conversations, and not using faith as a substitute for medicine. It’s about understanding who they are, what they believe, and what gives their life meaning.

Sometimes the right prescription is medication; sometimes it’s listening, encouragement, or reminding someone of the strength and hope they already carry but may have lost sight of.

Today was a humbling reminder that we rarely know the full impact of our words in the moment. A sentence we barely remember may be something someone else carries for a lifetime.