Today's Insight - July 15, 2013

Praising Personal Worth
by Charles R. Swindoll

The mouth of the righteous 
is a fountain of life; . . . on the lips 
of the discerning, wisdom is found.
Proverbs 10:11, 13

When we say thank you to someone who completes a task, we are expressing our appreciation. But when we acknowledge and express our gratitude for what others are—in character, in motive, in heart—we are affirming them personally. 

A mark of maturity is the ability to affirm, not just appreciate.

How easy to see people (especially family members and fellow [employees]) as doers of tasks, but a task-oriented mentality is incomplete. As important as appreciation for a job well done may be, it too is incomplete. 

People aren't human tools appointed to accomplish a set of tasks, but human beings with souls, with feelings. 

How essential it is to recognize and affirm the unseen, hidden qualities that make an individual a person of worth and dignity.

Used with permission. All rights reserved.

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