Be The One

22 Apr

“When you see something beautiful in someone, tell them.  It may take a second to say, but for them it could last a lifetime.”  ~ Unknown

We all need affirmation.  We all crave affirmation.  We all go out of our way to receive affirmation.  Yet, we are often the last to give affirmation to others.  Why is that?  You would think that we would recognize affirmation to be very important.  You would think that we would realize how special we feel when someone affirms us.  Because of that, you would think that we would be quick to affirm others.

Giving someone affirmation does not take a lot of time or energy.  Yet, when we do it, it means the world to them.  We might think that the kind remark we make to someone is something that they hear all the time from all sorts of people.  We might be very wrong in that assumption.  Our kind words might be the only ones that they hear that day.  We might be the reason that their day changes from awful to hopeful.

As I wrote, it does not take a lot of time or energy.  So, “when you see something beautiful in someone, tell them.”  You might just begin a cycle of good for the day because that person, now empowered and feeling better about himself or herself, will do the same for another.  And that person will do the same for another.  And those others for more others.  We could turn a miserable day for many into a day of peace, hope, and joy.

This is a most appropriate thought for today as so many people are glum regarding our pandemic.  They may not be feeling especially hopeful and they may not be feeling very positive about themselves as well.  As we are pretty much in a stay-in-place, maybe reaching out to someone by phone would be helpful.  Cheer them up.  Give them a reason to smile.

If you have to go out today for groceries or whatever else, make sure that you thank the person helping you or serving you.  That person is under incredible stress and an acknowledgement of their value to you will mean much to them.  It will cost you nothing but it may mean everything to them.

FAITH ACTION:  Be the one to encourage the people you encounter today.