“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”—John 13:34-35

This week, I read a devotion to my knitting group that coincided with our memory verse, Galatians 5:14. In “Starting Your Day Right,” by Joyce Meyer, she talked about how we should all get in the habit of complimenting someone every day, She suggested to try giving 3 compliments a day. I challenged the group to do the same. 

That day after knitting, while I was purchasing some cologne for my husband, the woman helping me had strikingly beautiful eyes.I told her, “You have such pretty eyes.” She thanked me and I said, “I am sure people tell you that all of the time. “ She said, “No, not really.” I was shocked and of course, was glad that I listened to that feeling to say something to her about it. How many times do I miss these opportunities because it is a bit uncomfortable to do this with a stranger?

In the flesh, my natural thought process with this challenge, was how God was going to use me to speak out to strangers this week like I did with the woman at the perfume store. However, God let me know pretty quick that this wasn’t all about me, and that He had a few things to bring to my attention.

Since I am getting close to crunch time with a deadline, I was home more this week than out in public. Which means, two out of my three compliments seemed to be done where I was spending the most time...at my house. I thought that I was really good about making sure my husband knew how much I appreciated him, but what I realized was that after day 3 or 4, he was wondering what was up with me. 

Wow! Pretty convicting. Here I thought I was good about letting him know how much he meant to me and how much I appreciated the life he provided for me, but obviously I think those thoughts more than I speak them out to him. I learned that I need to be more intentional about letting him know daily that I notice his hard work and all he does for me.

How many of us women, take it for granted the good man that we have or fail to point out to our children their positives qualities? None of them are perfect, but either are we. Do we tend to focus on the negatives and not build up their positive traits? It really doesn’t take much to make sure once a day that I build up my husband with one genuine compliment.

While I do need make sure when I am in public I am kind and build others up, I can’t neglect my home. What is done in public should also be reflected in my private life as well. I thought this week’s devotion would be about how my life was affected by loving others that I don’t know, but it was about making sure my home life reflects the same.

I challenge you to do the same this next week. Not only should you try and speak out at least 3 compliments a day but make sure you start in your home first. Document what happens when you let someone know you notice them and they make a difference, both at home and out in the world.

Dear Lord,

     Thank You for opening my eyes to how I neglect to let those I love the most know how much I value them. Help me to speak out my appreciation to them on a daily basis. I also ask that You continue to lead me to others that need to hear that they are noticed and that they matter. Help me to love like You so that it will be evident that I am one of Your disciples. I pray these things in the name of Jesus Amen.

This month’s memory verse is, “For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself.”—Galatians 5:14 How have you been able to live that out this week?

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