You have the ability to change the course of someone's day or even life.
Men especially, think how often you've heard a compliment outside of a dating scenario (or even in a relationship). Sometimes criticism is necessary and we need to know how to receive it without getting upset, angry or defensive.
But we take criticism so often at work, in relationships and from family. Sometimes it gets back to us from our extended social circles where someone out there has been criticizing or complaining about us. Sometimes it gets back to us that it was someone close to us.
It isn't weak to admit that sometimes it's hurtful or at the very best, discouraging. It certainly makes most of us angry and puts us in a defensive position.
And the more we hear, the more it piles up and the more discouraged we can become.
More importantly, it also isn't weak to admit that it actually feels good to hear something nice once in awhile.
It can mean even more when it comes from people out of our extended connections who we know aren't just saying something because they're a close friend that sees we're frustrated or who suspect might have an agenda behind the compliment.
When it comes from someone who really did observe an action we took, a way we spoke to someone or a situation we handled, it can carry more weight because we know it was sincere.
Think of someone in your extended circles and something you've seen them do or a way they handle themselves and text or message them right now: 'hey man, I just want you to know I've noticed how great you are with --your daughter-how you handled that bad call by that rodeo judge--how you never seem to let that supervisor get to you-- the way you always lend someone a hand.'
Look for the good in the people in your close circles and in your more distant ones.
Do not underestimate how much God can use you to lift that person out of a very bad head space you didn't even know they were in.
And don't rob yourself of such an easy way to glorify God by following what this verse teaches us.
Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
Paul is telling us to first make sure we aren't speaking any junk to begin with whether it's gossiping or running someone down behind their back or even two their face or just speaking with foul language.
We should only be using words and language that would be God-honoring. We forget, He is listening.
Paul then reminds us that anything we say should be for the benefit of others and that when we do this, it can point people to God's saving grace.
Cowboys of the Cross is a rodeo/bull riding ministry that leads cowboy church services at events and maintains an online presence to share the gospel and make disciples among the ranch and rodeo community. They can be found at CowboysOfTheCross. com
