What Was The Best Compliment You Ever Received?
Was it about how you looked? Was it about an accomplishment? Was it from a passing stranger or a close friend? Do you remember how it made you feel?
Compliments can hold a lot of weight because as humans, whether we want to or not, we tend to care what other people think and say about us. Even if we don’t put a whole lot of emphasis on others’ opinions, there’s something particularly validating about a, “Girl, you’re rocking those earrings today!” type of compliment.
Compliments Carry Heart
I remember one of the best compliments I’ve ever received. The compliment came from my grandfather just a few months after we’d lost our grandmother, Terry. He was separating some of her belongings to give a meaningful heirloom to each of her grandchildren when he offered me a beautiful necklace and said, “You have Terry’s heart.” What you don’t know is that my grandmother loved Jesus with every cell in her body – every ounce of herself. Her love for Jesus spilled over into the lives of every person she met, giving others the opportunity to know and love Him, too. The idea that I could carry her heart – that I could carry on her legacy of loving others how Jesus loved them – meant everything to me. It was a compliment and a challenge to follow in her footsteps.
But do you know why this compliment has stuck with me longer than any other? Why, for more than 10 years, I’ve clung to these words of my now-passed-on grandfather? Because it wasn’t just a compliment. It was a calling. He saw something that God put in me and obediently called it out.
Curating Compliments
What if we began curating our compliments based on truth this World Compliment Day? If we could affirm to others not just who they are in this world but Whose they are based on the Word of God.
How different would our world look if, instead of relying on likes, follows, and retweets for validation, we wore a crown of confidence based on the truth of who God says we are? And what if we could help one another walk in that truth with a simple, yet profound, compliment? 1 Thessalonians 5:11 tells us to “Encourage one another and build each other up,” so how can we begin? Here are some ideas for life-changing compliments.
#1: Compliment Where They Came From
- You are created on purpose!
- You are uniquely made by God.
- Nothing about you is an accident. God made you perfect in His image.
- You are a beloved child of God.
Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in your mother’s womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I set you apart.”
Psalm 139:14 “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
Genesis 1:27 “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”
#2: Compliment Their Godly Characteristics
- You are so courageous.
- I see you walking through a tough season with so much grace.
- You are honest even when it isn’t easy to be.
- God’s love is evident through you.
- You’re a great listener.
2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and of a sound mind.”
Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
James 1:19 “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”
Philippians 2:1-2 “Therefore if you have any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being united in spirit and purpose.”
#3: Call Out Their Calling
- God is doing great things through you.
- You have a special way of connecting with people.
- Your gifts and talents are going to grow the Kingdom of God.
- The journey you’re on is bringing glory to God.
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Esther 4:14 “Perhaps you were born for such a time as this.”
Psalm 33:11 “The plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations.”
Confidence in God's Creation
In honor of World Compliment Day on March 1, reframe how you compliment others. Instead of conventional kudos that offer a temporary boost of self-confidence, consider that your words can affirm a Biblical truth to a sister (or brother) in Christ that they may not have otherwise heard. Offer a compliment that can change their life – a confidence in God’s creation.
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” –Ephesians 4:29 NIV
Desirée Micheels is a passionate wife, mom of two, and follower of Christ who, alongside her mom, Christine, published their true story Just Believe: Every Summer Has a Story. With a degree in communications from New York’s FIT and experience in the worlds of publishing and advertising, Desiree seeks to combine her love of writing and creative arts with God's call on her life to empower women and girls to find their true identity and value in Christ. You can connect with her at @desroccs and @justbelievebook and follow her blog at www.justbelievebook.com.
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What a great way to bless others in this idea of Godly compliments & encouragement! A practice well worth pursuing 🙏🏼💜
A practice well worth pursuing! 🙌🏿🙌🏻🙌🏽
Amen and Amen❣️ I will definitely be using these and intentionally doing this more often. Talk about speaking the truth into someone’s life, what better way then with words of the absolute truth‼️🙏🏾
What better way?
Compliments change lives, save souls and bring joy. A wonderful reminder.
Isn’t that sweet?