Lent Guide 2023নমুনা

Friday – Admiration and respect

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Phil. 4:8

According to research, it doesn’t look like we can get away from the tendency to compare ourselves to others. It looks like it is something that happens to us, rather than a choice that we make. What we do know is that we have a choice concerning what we will do once we realise that we are busy comparing. In other words, we can choose to not give in to the temptation. The more we accept our own brokenness, accept the diversity of gifts and the inequality in life as a given, the more we can move to a place of admiration and respect. I can admire or respect someone if their abilities or achievements or character inspires me. Instead of competing and putting myself at the centre of everything, I choose connection and put someone else at the centre. It can contribute to us wanting to improve ourselves. We do it with our sports heroes. We don’t become jealous or envious of them, but we admire them. We don’t want to take their place, or even become like them. We just want to become a better version of ourselves.

Admiration and respect can also be called worship. It’s what happens to us when we see and realise who He is. We feel small, humble, and drawn to coming closer and making a connection. To be disrespectful means to not have the expected reaction of respect towards the important, weighty, and holy in life. We sometimes laugh at silly, disrespectful humour, be we can never feel good about it.

The invitation for the day is to look at three people close to you with eyes of admiration and respect. What is there about them that is true, lovely, noble and pure? Familiarity kills everything in and around you. Look at those people you know until they become unfamiliar. Thank Him for that which He has given them and tell them what you admire about them.

Grace:

Lord, I ask for the grace of a life free from comparison.