A couple of months ago I watched this video and it really resonated with me, as it probably did with millions of others. We beat ourselves up so much, and not just over appearance either.
Did I say the right thing?, act the right
way......did they think I'm odd or crazy?
To see first hand how others viewed them is
eye opening! Don't you wish you could see yourself that way? Not so much as to
make you vain, but to give yourself a little more grace. We are made in the
image of God, we are His beautiful creation!
Have you had people compliment you, yet
you shrugged it off thinking 'they can't really mean that' or 'they're just
saying that to be nice'? Do you stand in your closet getting ready for an
outing (or anywhere for that matter) and put on one outfit only to change
because you think it makes you look fat, or frumpy....or ______ fill in the
blank? Do you leave a party and wonder just how many times you put your foot in
your mouth? I know I sure do!
I received a very sweet encouraging email the
other day and it made me look back in time. Back to a few comments people have
made over the years that made me stop in my 'beat myself up attitude', making
me long to get a glimpse of myself from their point of view.
It makes me want to be more intentional about
telling people how I see them. How they inspire me. Not by just saying 'you
inspire me' but including details. Writing a note, email or text.
I've learned that people will forget what
you said, people will forget what you did, but people
will never forget how you made them feel. ~Maya
Angelou
So, I'm challenging myself (and you!) to tell people more
often how you see them (the good stuff) and what they mean to you. Allow them
to feel Christ's love through you.
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!
And that is what we are! 1 John 3:1
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