… I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary Isaiah 50.4
I just discovered the coolest thing. I've been quoted on other blogs! I can't believe it! I knew that my blog was one of the best on the Net I just didn't think that anyone else knew it. I also realize, as one of my “wise” coworkers from GM told me years ago that, “Opinions are like arm-pits. Everyone has em and for the most part they all STINK!” O that paint shop wisdom.
Back to the important stuff. My blog was quoted two or three times on someone else's blog! Does that make me famous? Not necessarily but it has stroked my ego a tad.
It's funny what excites the average-Joe type person like me. Two or three admiring quotes and I'm a happy camper. In reality, blogs these days are a “dime a dozen”. So a simple quote in someone's blog shouldn't stoke my pride. But it did. It was fun to see my words on someone else's blog. As mom used to say, “Simple minds simple pleasures.” I think that she mean that in a kind way. She really knew how to stroke an ego.
This reminds me of a Bible principle (Oh, oh, here comes the mini-sermon) found in Isaiah 50.4. Our words affect others. A simple and kind word can change the course of someone's life. A cruel and caustic word can do the same.
It is so easy for me to be quick, funny and sarcastic with my words, usually at someone else's expense. Caustic remarks though funny for an instant smolder for ages and only die when the person does. Thus be careful and use them seldom if ever.
Eulogize often. Funny, or morbidly sad, how we usually only eulogize at funerals. We should eulogize while our friend or family member is still around to hear our flowery expressions of gratitude and love.
I remember one of my eulogies from my recent past. I was at the bedside of a ninety-six year old friend who was within days of death. This man had been a stalwart at our church for decades. A simple handshake by this aged saint years earlier had influenced my family to become a part of the church in which I would eventually accept Christ and later be sent to the mission field.
One Sunday morning in the late fifties my brother, his young wife and their two little kids came to the front door of the church. As they climbed the ten steps to those opened doors they noticed that the service had already begun. Embarrassed for some reason they decided that they'd not enter. As they turned to leave an usher, my now ninety-six year old friend, came running out of those big doors and grasped my brother's hand in a warm greeting. That one gesture changed the course of our family history!
As I shared this story of the now forgotten hand-shake, tears crept into his hazy eyes and he said with trembling lips and slurred tongue, “I never knew that. Thanks for sharing that with me Mike.” I can't help but imagine that just a few days later when he stepped onto the heavenly shore and shared a hand-shake with the Savior that my friend remembered our conversation.
Eulogize, quote in a flattering way and share your complements freely. At first it might seem like a strange thing to do but it pays rich rewards. Make people famous. They will never forget you for it and it just might be the tool the Jesus uses to open their eyes to His Salvation.
I just discovered the coolest thing. I've been quoted on other blogs! I can't believe it! I knew that my blog was one of the best on the Net I just didn't think that anyone else knew it. I also realize, as one of my “wise” coworkers from GM told me years ago that, “Opinions are like arm-pits. Everyone has em and for the most part they all STINK!” O that paint shop wisdom.
Back to the important stuff. My blog was quoted two or three times on someone else's blog! Does that make me famous? Not necessarily but it has stroked my ego a tad.
It's funny what excites the average-Joe type person like me. Two or three admiring quotes and I'm a happy camper. In reality, blogs these days are a “dime a dozen”. So a simple quote in someone's blog shouldn't stoke my pride. But it did. It was fun to see my words on someone else's blog. As mom used to say, “Simple minds simple pleasures.” I think that she mean that in a kind way. She really knew how to stroke an ego.
This reminds me of a Bible principle (Oh, oh, here comes the mini-sermon) found in Isaiah 50.4. Our words affect others. A simple and kind word can change the course of someone's life. A cruel and caustic word can do the same.
It is so easy for me to be quick, funny and sarcastic with my words, usually at someone else's expense. Caustic remarks though funny for an instant smolder for ages and only die when the person does. Thus be careful and use them seldom if ever.
Eulogize often. Funny, or morbidly sad, how we usually only eulogize at funerals. We should eulogize while our friend or family member is still around to hear our flowery expressions of gratitude and love.
I remember one of my eulogies from my recent past. I was at the bedside of a ninety-six year old friend who was within days of death. This man had been a stalwart at our church for decades. A simple handshake by this aged saint years earlier had influenced my family to become a part of the church in which I would eventually accept Christ and later be sent to the mission field.
One Sunday morning in the late fifties my brother, his young wife and their two little kids came to the front door of the church. As they climbed the ten steps to those opened doors they noticed that the service had already begun. Embarrassed for some reason they decided that they'd not enter. As they turned to leave an usher, my now ninety-six year old friend, came running out of those big doors and grasped my brother's hand in a warm greeting. That one gesture changed the course of our family history!
As I shared this story of the now forgotten hand-shake, tears crept into his hazy eyes and he said with trembling lips and slurred tongue, “I never knew that. Thanks for sharing that with me Mike.” I can't help but imagine that just a few days later when he stepped onto the heavenly shore and shared a hand-shake with the Savior that my friend remembered our conversation.
Eulogize, quote in a flattering way and share your complements freely. At first it might seem like a strange thing to do but it pays rich rewards. Make people famous. They will never forget you for it and it just might be the tool the Jesus uses to open their eyes to His Salvation.
Comments
Post a Comment