A Compliment a Day

   Okay, if you know me or if you have read my blogs you probably know that I like teaching and working with kids. What you may not know is that I also like animals, specifically dogs. I have a dog named Yoyo. He is a Pomeranian-sheltie. He is spoiled rotten, even if he is bad, but most dog owners would probably guess that.
   Yoyo is super cute. Because of that fact, he hears he is cute every day. It may not even be from his family. We could be out on a walk and random people will say "your dog is so cute!"
   I'm not complaining about this at all. I love my dog, and he is cute. What I am wondering is why we like complimenting dogs and animals so much more than humans? I mean, I could go a whole day, even a whole week, without receiving a compliment. Yet, animals get compliments all the time. I love animals, but sometimes I feel we put them ahead of people.
   Why do we do that? I think it may have something to do with the fact that we work with people every day and we can actually communicate with them. But I also think it may have something to do with the way we were brought up/our differences. Some of us don't need positive reinforcement in words to feel good. Those people may not give compliments as much. But, I am sure that, even if your love language is not words of affirmation, you still don't mind getting a compliment.
   Why should we give compliments? One reason is because it shows others that we care and we love them. Another reason is that it is scientifically proven that, if you receive a compliment and give a compliment, you will be happier. Plus, in the Bible we are called to build each other up.
How can we give others compliments when it is hard or we are not good at it? Start off small: choose a specific time each day to give someone a compliment. If you forget easily, set an alarm on your phone. At that time either give someone a compliment in person, in a note, call them, or text them. Then you can keep adding to that until it comes naturally.
   What shouldn’t we do when giving compliments? Please don't make it an empty compliment like: "Oh you are so nice. Your shirt looks good." Add some substance so that person knows you truly care. You could say something like: "I really like how you sacrifice your time by making coffee for everyone every day. It brightens the workplace. I also like your cross necklace. It helps me remember to think about Jesus." This kind of compliment tells someone to keep up the good work and encourages them to work harder.
   So, do you need to give others more positive feedback? How can you get better at giving compliments? Who can you give a compliment to today?

   1 Thessalonians 5:11, Hebrews 10:24-25, Ephesians 4:29

Conclusion: The Fruit of the Spirit Series

   “Grow deep roots to harvest rich fruit! When your roots run deep, you cannot help but bear the fruit of the Spirit” (Michael Beckwith).

   Thus ends the journey through the fruits of the spirit. Even though my journey of writing about the fruits of the spirit has ended my study and application of them in my life has not. Because, if we as Christians stop learning about and applying the fruits of the spirit then we fail to grow in God.

   Through this journey I learned a few things that I hope you realized as well. First, all of the fruits of the spirit are connected in one way or another. Detaching them was a difficult task as was defining them. For example: if one has a gentle spirit then that person will love others. If that person loves others then the person will show self-control if someone else angers him, and so on.

   Another aspect I hope you have seen is that without God one cannot exhibit all of the fruits of the spirit. This is why one must be in constant communication with God. And, why you must have a relationship with God. God wants us to be his friend, and he wants him to grow in him. Above all else we must remember that when certain things happen in our lives, that we may not like, it is all within God’s plan for us. That is why we must trust him.

   So, are you willing to grow and exhibit the fruits of the spirit? Do you have a relationship with God in order to better exhibit the fruits of the spirit?

   Matthew 7:15-20, John 15:1, Matthew 6:19-21, Galatians 5:22-23

The Goodness in Choosing Right: The Fruit of the Spirit Series

   “Goodness is about character, integrity, honest, kindness, generosity, moral, courage, and the like. More than anything else, it is about how we treat other people” (Dennis Prager).

   When you hear the word goodness what do you think of? You probably think of people doing nice things for others. It sounds a lot like kindness doesn’t it? Why would Paul put both kindness and goodness in the fruit of the spirit if they are pretty much the same?

   Kindness and goodness are not the same. You can be good by showing kindness. But, goodness is “the deliberate preference of right to wrong, the firm and persistent resistance of all moral evil, and the choosing and following of all moral good” (Easton’s Bible Dictionary). In order to be good one must choose to do right rather than wrong. And, ever since sin entered the world, that isn’t easy.

   The way to learn right from wrong is either by studying or by learning from a teacher. While I was student teaching, in my last semester at Lancaster Bible College, I was having a really difficult time getting the students to learn. I could not understand why the students did not want to learn more about their world, especially when I was doing it in a fun way/trying to cater to their individual interests. On top of that I was getting frustrated because I felt like a failure as a teacher.

   Then I had a conversation with my professor. She told me that I seemed to be getting frustrated because students did not want to learn and they were misbehaving. Then she told me that I have a definite sense of right and wrong. I feel that students are always growing but they can either grow the right way or the wrong way. It became my goal, after that conversation, to plant seeds of learning in students to help them grow the right way.

   In order to choose right rather than wrong, one must know the word of God. And, like I said the best way to learn right from wrong is to study or be taught. But, there is no way that we can always choose to be good because we are sinful creatures. We need to pray to God to help us choose his path rather than the wrong path. With his help we can choose follow his ways.

   So, have you chosen to follow God? Do you have a teacher in your life to help you learn right from wrong and keep you accountable? Do you believe that it is only through God that you are able to choose right from wrong?

   Psalm 23:6, Romans 12:9, Galatians 6:10, Galatians 5:22-23

Show Kindness Every Day: The Fruit of the Spirit Series

   “A simple act of kindness can make a tremendous impact on a person’s life” (anonymous).

   Picture a college dorm. I’m not talking about a guy’s dorm where there are probably stinky smells and clothes everywhere. I am talking about a girl’s dorm where there are good smelling soaps and organized clothes. That is where this story begins. At Lancaster Bible College each student who stays on campus is required to do dorm duties. When I was there each girl needed to do one job per week. There were jobs like cleaning the toilet, cleaning the shower, vacuuming, taking out the trash, taking out the recycling, cleaning the sinks, etc.

   Most people did not like doing those jobs. But, since we did them once each week, things did not get too messy. There was a point in time where most of the girls were getting stressed. I decided to do all of the dorm duties for the girls, but I did not tell them I did it. All of the girls were so surprised and thankful. Some of them still do not know that I was the one who did that. I did not tell them because I wanted them to thank God for the blessing they received.

   Kindness is “the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate” (Oxford dictionary). Seems like a pretty simple and straightforward definition but being kind isn’t always easy. Sometimes there are people who we just do not get along with. And, other times we feel like we just do not have time to be kind.

   Many people think that in order to be kind one must do extravagant things. That simply isn’t the case. I have found that most people feel more blessed by the simple acts. Every day we are given the chance to do a random act of kindness for at least one person. What does kindness look like? It is letting that person go in front of you in line. It is picking up trash on the floor. It is holding the door for someone. Kindness can be shown in the little things we choose to do every day that will bring a smile to someone’s face.

   So, are you willing to go out of your way to show kindness to others? Do you believe that kindness can be shown in the little things you choose to do for others?

   Colossians 3:12, Proverbs 3:3, Luke 6:35, Galatians 5:22-23