Say All the Unspoken Things: A Book of LettersSample

DAY 3: Developing Character

My dearest children,

Don’t live for attention. A person who does this is constantly asking for approval. There is something beautiful about humility, about thinking of others and being less self-centered and self-conscious. I think humility is quiet. It doesn’t boast or strut or demand the spotlight. It moves from childish self-centeredness to others-centeredness. It listens. It is at peace. Modesty and humility are cousins. Being modest means you don’t brag, or grab credit, or bluster on about your success. Be secretly awesome. Dare to become great without telling anyone.

No one wants to be in relationship with someone who is always all about themselves. I think humility is the basis of all our relationships with people and with God. Kindness, like humility, is a way of being in the world. It comes from the heart saying, “I am here and I am for you.” Kindness builds bridges, creates trust, and makes friends easily. All good things come from God. Knowing this allows us to see things the way they are. Humility doesn’t seek to make excuses or pass the blame; it owns faults, even when painful or humiliating. It is from this place that we can see our real need for Christ and we are open to the possibility of God’s grace and open to change. When you are humble, you are a bold contrast to a generation that desperately wants to be famous. Humility is such a rare and precious commodity that anyone who has it stands out in the crowd.

Fame-seeking is the inevitable result of our consumer culture that says You don’t have enough, you are not enough. When you seek fame, you give your power to others, you ask them to decide your worth. And it is a slippery place to build your lives. But what if we stopped caring about their opinions? What if we took our power back? Always remind yourselves who you are and to whom you belong. Don’t compare and compete. And remember, you don’t need a bunch of things or a relationship to be enough. You are wonderfully made. You are the first one of your kind.

Remember that God sees you, even during times when nothing makes sense, when you don’t fit in. He is with you. Seek him. When the time is right and you are ready, he will call you to act. These are divine moments when destiny collides with opportunity and need. He can build in you the character you need to answer his call.

As you seek God’s call in your life, look for ways to use your words to create and build—to build families and start friendships. Words become part of us, part of our character. They are the thoughts inside our own minds that shape what we believe about ourselves and the world. Words give us courage. Words dispel lies. Words fill our hearts, minds, and souls with good things. If you have beauty in your hearts, it reflects in your speech, in the words you choose and the way you listen. Your words are powerful. Choose them wisely. They say a lot about your character. Generations will be impacted by what you say.

Humbly and kindly speak life,
Dad

Respond

In what ways does a humble person stand out in our world?

How does defining your worth by God’s standard build good character and strengthen you?

What do your words reflect about your character? How would you like your words to impact those God puts in your life?

Prayer

Lord, it is so tempting to look at myself the way the world does, to seek attention, and to doubt my worth. Thank you that you define who I am and that I can stand firmly in light of the knowledge that I am precious to you. Help me to live out the godly character that you are building in me. Amen.