There’s a certain person in my life who builds me up every time I’m in her presence. No matter if I’m in her physical presence or in her social media presence, she makes me feel special and important.
My thoughts turned to her today.
From what I know of her story, she hasn’t always had an easy life. Like all of us, she’s experienced her share of heartache, pain, disappointments and the yuck of life. But ask her about any of that, and she’ll tell you how Jesus has blessed her. And He has, as you can see the fruits of the spirit throughout her beautiful life. Her love for Jesus is evident.
No wonder she makes everyone who crosses her path feel special!
My thoughts then turned to me.
Do I make those in my life feel as special and as important? I might do that for a few, but for every single person?? This is something I’d like to intentionally do better at. But yet, I think the more vibrant our relationship with Jesus is, the more naturally we extend love and care to others.
How about you? How do you do at making people in your life feel special and important? You’re probably pretty good at this, aren’t you?? What specific things do you do?
Here are a handful of ideas:
Five Simple Ways To Make Others Feel Important
1. Find one positive thing about him/her and extend a compliment.
If possible, compliment him/her on a character trait, and how they bless others with it.
2. Offer a word of encouragement.
How can you encourage this person the most at this very moment?
3. Listen intently, without talking about yourself.
Make eye contact and really listen to what he/she has to say.
4. Perform an act of kindness that would mean much to this person.
Could you carry her groceries, buy a cup of coffee, bake him some cookies?
5. Pray for him/her.
He/she may never know you prayed, but God will. You’ll be blessed, and so will he/she.
May we be intentional about making others in our lives feel important! I’d love to read any of your ideas below. If you’re still looking for a New Year’s resolution, this might be a good one!
Have a blessed day!
Julie
It’s a joy to link up with friends Holly and Kelly on this Tuesday. Visit their places and be encouraged. You’ll be blessed!
One can never be too intentional on this! Thanks for your encouragement – and our husbands may need it the most (tho express the need the least…) Next to you at Kelley’s today.
Yes, our husbands may need it the most. Absolutely. Thanks for stopping in and for pointing this out to us. Great reminder! Have a beautiful day!
Excellent list, and so important!
I try to make others feel important, because I know what it is to feel unimportant. When my career went away (along with health insurance, and I’m very ill) and I had (and have) to fight to get disability, I realized that all my education and experience, all the teaching and research I did…counted for nothing.
The powers that be basically said, “hie yourself away and die”.
I don’t want anyone to feel that worthless, if I can possibly help it.
I don’t want anyone to feel worthless either, Andrew. I’m sorry you experienced that. Everyone is important and special, and should be shown and told that often. I want to do better at this in 2015!
I send them a card and let them know how they have encouraged me and blessed me. I bake them cookies, or a cake or write them a poem.
Great ideas, Tara! I love sending cards too. I appreciate you sharing these today. Thank you for stopping by! Have a beautiful day!
Great suggestions, Julie! I need to work on all of them! You are indeed an encourager and I am always blessed when I read your words. xoxo
I need to work on them, too, Sabra. Thank you for how you always encourage me here and at your blog home! I appreciate you. Have a blessed weekend!
I am so thrilled you made to the linkup! This post was wonderful. I love your list…especially #3. You can tell quickly when someone is truly listening by how quickly they turn the conversation to themselves. I have been guilty of this many times, but want to be much better at listening. Thankful for a God who listens to me perfectly.
Hi Renee! Thank you for stopping by and sharing. I still want to go over and read your post from Tuesday. Feeling a little behind this week! I’m thankful God listens to me perfectly, too. So thankful! Have a blessed weekend. I’ll be over to your blog home soon!
Oh Julie. I love this! If I can just be so selfless and think about the other person more than myself! Yes, I really do you love your tangible tips. I am so blessed to be able to read your encouragement. Thank you so much. Cheering you is so easy.
Thank you, Kelly, and thank you for hosting the link. Mondays are tough for me to be on Twitter much, but hopefully this week I’ll make it there a little more. Keep doing what you’re doing. You’re making a difference!
I love this. It is one of my goals for this year. I appreciate the practical ideas for putting it into practice. #3 is one I really need to work on. Too often I give examples from my own life, when just listening would be better.
Cathy
http://www.cathyhooper.com
Thank you, Cathy for stopping in and for sharing. So glad you did! Have a blessed week as you make others feel important!