Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones Proverbs 16:24
Look for ways to affirm people.
That was on my some time ago when we traveled and stayed in a bed and breakfast inn. At a B&B, you typically eat breakfast around a table with other guests whom you are meeting for the first time. It is a kind of fun experience, even for a quasi-introvert like me.
One of the couples at the table explained that they were there (in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) for their 40th wedding anniversary. By the way, there were four couples around the table, and the couple celebrating their 40th were the “newlyweds” at the table.
The anniversary couple stated that they were returning to where they had met- at a Lutheran seminary nearby. I asked the husband if he were a pastor, and he laughed and said, no, he works as a consumer advocate for the California public utilities commission. He is a “watchdog” to ensure that public utilities are giving the best service to consumers at the lowest reasonable cost.
I commented to him, “Well, you are a shepherd, just to a different flock”. He smiled and mentioned that he took that as a warm compliment. I meant it as a way to affirm him in his life’s work. Clearly, he was touched a bit, and I hope it made his day a little better.
It did for me.
Prayer: Lord, help us to look for opportunities to affirm people, Amen
Reflections of a Counselor 