Be.Loved. 25 Simple Acts of Love to Change a LifeSample

DAY 6: Be generous with your compliments to others

“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

We’ve all heard the phrase “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” Although we may abide by this command most of the time, the unfortunate reality is that too many of us swing so far right that we don’t say anything at all most of the time. 

But what if we were to open our eyes to those around us and see the beauty in others? What if we slowed down long enough to see something nice in others that we could reflect back to them? 

Perhaps this means complimenting someone’s hair color or shoes, or in the workplace, complimenting how effective your employee was in getting the job done well. Maybe it means telling your little boy he is very kind for reaching out to the boy who has no friends, or perhaps it’s telling a mom that she is doing a good job raising her kids. 

If we truly understand others as made in the image of God, and humanity as the supreme creation of God’s hands, then we will inevitably find beauty in those around us. 

This story demonstrates this idea well: While in church one day, a woman complimented the woman in front of her on her short curly hair. “You have beautiful curly hair!” she exclaimed after the service had ended. The woman’s eyes quickly filled with tears as she responded, “That means so much to me. I am battling cancer and lost all my hair. Now it’s growing back and I feel like it’s just a ragdoll mess. Thank you for making me feel beautiful.” 

Being generous may not feel natural at first, but it’s a simple way to love others well. 

Today, be generous with your compliments towards others. Find five people and make them feel loved and valued through your words. Be salt and light in a world that screams we are never enough.

Reflect on this experience and consider how you might incorporate these kinds of generous words more frequently in your day-to-day life.