LOVE IS POSITIVE: IT BELIEVES THE BEST OF ALL
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During my days at the university, I gave up a Master of Ceremonies (MC) role to a first year student and friend who had little experience, but obviously endowed potentially.
I approached him and
told him, “I would want you to take my role and be the MC on Sunday.”
Hesitantly he told me, “I have never done it before.” But upon encouragement
and reassurance to guide him, he obliged.
Now Sunday came, and
everyone was expecting me as the MC, but there he was on the podium. Though shaky
from the beginning, he built confidence along. I stood at the back admiring his
moderation and leadership style, and whenever he raised his head and saw me
nodding my head and whispering, “you can do it”, he was the more motivated to
put up his best. He did it!
He has emceed many
events ever since. When I was completing school, he sent me a text message
thanking me for my influence in his life.
Love always puts the
little efforts of loved ones under the “Magnifying Lenses of Love”, focusing it
on the positives to magnify the hidden talents, gifts, potentials and abilities.
Love believes the best of all things.
Love Encourages
In life, without
knowing it most of the time, we are either encouraging or discouraging others; we
either build or break; we either lift up or we lower down. In every contact we
make, we impact people positively or negatively, however small.
Love seeks the good in
others by motivating them, believing in them, cheering them on to be and do the
best they can.
The writer of Hebrews
admonishes us to “Think of ways to
encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds” (Heb.10:24, NLT).
Once on a Sunday when
worship was ongoing, a sister turned and saw me behind her not singing. Then she
said, “Uh huh, you are not singing! Haven’t you realized that when you are not
singing the songs don’t go well and everyone notices it?”
These words have
spurred me on ever since. Whenever the congregation is singing, I remember her
words, and I sing with all might and joy.
We all need
encouragement at one point or another; and we all respond well to it! (I’m
grateful to everyone who in one way or the other has encouraged me to higher
heights.)
Encouraging Others is Self-Fulfilling
If we will make it a
habit to encourage others, we will come to realize that it is the best way to
live. You feel good within. You feel satisfied and fulfilled. The healthy and
happy people are those who move around looking for someone to love; to
encourage.
Someone rightly said “You
can’t live any better life than you can love.” You can’t do better for yourself
than to help others.
How to Believe the Best of Others and Encourage Them
It doesn’t take any
big, special efforts. We can do it in a thousand simple ways.
- Simple Smile: A smile shows acceptance. It conveys a feeling of confidence, with an expectation that the person is going to do well, and as humans, we tend to try to live up to that. Smile is so simple, but it makes great difference. Someone rightly said, “A smile is a way of writing your thoughts on your face telling others that they are loved, cherished and appreciated.”
- Touch: We could learn something from the way team athletes freely pat, touch and high-five each other in competitions. Touch – hugs, handshakes, pats – is a powerful encouragement. But be sure to be sensitive and above reproach in this area especially with the opposite sex.
- Words of Affirmation: A kind word, words of approval and praise can do wonders and make great differences. What about the tone of voice? The way something is said is as important as – maybe even more important than – the words that are used.
- Listen: Most of us like to be heard talk, but there are thousands who need someone to just listen to them. It conveys the message that you care. It shows you are interested in the person – no matter what they are saying.
Love chooses to believe
the best about people. It thinks positive of all people, hopes for the good of
them, and gives them the benefit of the doubt.
Human beings are endless
living and breathing books of positives to be read. We must learn to look out for
the good in everyone.
Make visible what
without you, might perhaps never have been seen. (Robert Bresson)
Reference:
- Habits of a Loving Heart by Willard Tate
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