Compliments and Encouragement

I knew a Preacher/fellow Elder who I worked with for over thirty years. To my best recollection he never paid me a compliment. That is until the day he left and then over a phone conversation he paid me a compliment that may be the best compliment I have ever received and it brought tears to my eyes. That was very encouraging.

On the other hand I know people who give out compliments like giving out candy on Halloween… everyone gets one. I had led singing one Sunday morning and had a fellow tell me what a great job I did. That felt good until a few Sundays later a Song Leader led singing who I thought did a particularly poor job and yet the same fellow who paid me a compliment gave the other a guy the exact same compliment… “great job song leading” All of a sudden the candy didn’t taste so sweet.

I’m not saying to only give out compliments every thirty years nor am I saying to continuously give out compliments. But what I am saying is make those compliments real and special. Pay a compliment when it is deserved and provide some details like…

- that prayer you led stirred my heart.

- that prayer brought tears to my eyes.

- the songs you led were inspiring and touched my heart

- I learned something in class today that I had never ever thought of. Thank-you.

- you are going to be an excellent Elder some day and I can’t wait.

Compliments can be very encouraging when given properly and are a great tool for stimulating spiritual growth. When given improperly they can be meaningless and empty.