Wednesday; October 5

Have you ever known someone who received an award? Most of us are surrounded by people who receive honors and, when we like them, we are happy for them. However, what happens when someone you don’t really appreciate gets an award – or better yet, how do we feel when someone we don’t particularly like gets an award or recognition that we feel like we should have gotten?

While most of us are tempted to harbor ill-will towards some people who are acknowledged, it is important that we take the high road. Rather than ignoring their accomplishments (or even sabotaging their acknowledgements), how much better would it be if we were the ones who publicly patted them on their backs and published their accomplishments. Jealousy will not help us gain the award they received, so it is of little value. However, when we applaud them for what they accomplished and post their accolades publicly both of us feel better.

When Paul congratulated the early Christians by saying “Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.” (I Thessalonians 5:11) he reminded them (and us) that pettiness doesn’t do anyone any good. Let’s affirm each other’s accomplishments and share their good times with them. Who knows, maybe they will lead our parade when we are honored.

Think About It!

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