This is a 2 part series 🙂 And somewhat of a soap box, even more so a lifestyle change.
About 4 weeks ago I challenged my team to start thinking more about giving and making that a part of their daily life. We started off by writing 7 cards to 7 people in 7 days. The challenge was to write something thoughtful and not just sign a card. So often we shoot e-mails and texts and do things in a rush. Sending 7 cards had to have thought and action. We also focused on random acts of kindness and paying it forward.
Right about around the end of the fourth week I had a great AHA moment. I have always said my love language was gifts and words of affirmation. I like to be told I am doing well and I love to receive thoughtful gifts, or at least I thought I did. When I have bad days I find myself asking God to use others to affirm to me that I am doing a good job through words or actions. Last week, during a day of stress and distraction, I picked up a bouquet of flowers for a teen in my youth group and a 2nd bouquet for whomever. I drove around all day with these flowers in my car. I found myself looking of facebook for someone having a bad day or someone who just needed encouraged. No one came to mind and by the time I got home, they were still in my car. As I looked across the street to see my neighbor wasn’t home, it dawned on me that she was exactly who I wanted to give flowers to. Not for any particular reason then that I simply just love her.
I realized in that moment that giving flowers to her for no reason blessed me WAAAAY more than if someone showed up at my house with a gift or thoughtful words. I have always thought and told myself that when people do nice things for me or say nice things to me that that is how I am fulfilled and find self worth. WELL, I have been lying to myself for as long as I can remember. I am fulfilled by serving and loving others, for no other reason than the fact that I love them.
I want to challenge you to search your own heart for this same ”AHA” moment. This week when things aren’t going your way , you feel discouraged, or you just aren’t happy, write someone a card and share with them why you appreciate them. Pick up flowers for someone just because you love them. Pick up the coffee for the person in line behind you at the drive through. I can guarantee, that in that moment of selflessness, your mood will lighten and your heart will be blessed.
Instead of finding your selfworth in how others view you, why not take the time to speak some selfworth into others. It is so easy to discourage others, lets spend some time building them up!