It continues to amaze me how often I meet someone who holds onto the hurt of what someone said about them once.
Truly, there are many of us who are currently walking around with emotional and even spiritual limps because of what someone told us years ago.
Seeing Problems vs. Seeing Potential
After surviving a house fire, I learned just how quickly houses can come crashing down. In the months and years after demolishing what was left, I learned the process of reconstructing what was lost is long.
I think what is true about houses is also true about people. You can tear someone down in an instant, but building them back up after suffering trauma? That takes time.
Furthermore, it doesn’t take much skill or effort to poke fun of someone. We all have weaknesses. For most of us, weaknesses don’t take too much time to discover.
If you dare to look into what God sees in someone, however, you really have to train your eye and look deep into their life.
You really have to sit, listen, and get to know someone to truly care and see how God is moving in their life. This type of work takes time, effort, and a whole lot of patience.
The question is, which type of person are we?
Are we someone who tears people down or builds people up?
Do we only see the problems in people’s lives, or do we dare to look closer and deeper to find the potential in someone’s life?
Let us be a person who calls out people’s potential!
Love is absolutely an action.
Love has an attitude to accompany every action.
Love also speaks!
Love encourages, love comforts, and love continues to rebuild broken people through words of affirmation.
“Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances.” – Proverbs 25:11 NASB
Action Step
Who is one person you will encounter today whom you can compliment? Who can you build up today? What could you tell them that would set their soul on fire?
I challenge you to look at your schedule today and find someone whom you can encourage.
When encouraging someone I often try to find something lovely I already think about when I think about that person and actually say it. It amazes me how I often think well of someone yet I keep my positive thoughts to myself.
Be thoughtful, be honest, be genuine.
Prayer
God, guide me with Your Spirit to cherish, love, and edify those around me. Give me the courage to verbally express my gratitude for others. Thank you for giving me words of grace, in Jesus’ name, amen.
