How are you in accepting compliments?
Although I still tend to cast my eyes downward (shame) and say my "thank you's" quickly, finding myself trying to change the subject, taking the attention off of me; the healing touch of my Heavenly Daddy continues in my heart. Restoring my worthiness a little "thank you" at a time.
I am trying to understand that the compliments that are given to me from someone I care and respect are not only for my benefit. They too get pleasure out of encouraging and complementing.
Oh, how so many times I have hurt and rushed the process of someone trying to be kind to me and "fluff it off as if it was nothing" because of my own securities and fears. Not realizing there are other people's feelings involved besides mine.
Growing up in an environment where I was shamed, put down, judged, criticized, laughed at, called stupid had left damaging effects on who I am. I certainly did not think I deserved anything. Or believed I would amount to much.
We sometimes find it difficult to accept a compliment. We may feel we don't deserve such attention, and point out reasons why the compliment is untrue. When we act this way, we show a lack of love for ourselves.
God teaches us to love our neighbors as ourselves. Yet, before we can love anyone, we must believe we are worthy of the same love. No creature is undeserving of love, God reminds us of that. We can stop hiding behind feelings of unworthiness. There's nothing stopping us but ourselves. Sometimes it takes courage to say thank you when we get a compliment. Let's exercise that courage, and each time we do, we'll find our self-love growing.
When I thank people today, will I have the courage to smile, too?
Hazelden Foundation
i've always found accepting compliments very hard, and just like you, feel i don't really deserve them, and try to brush them off. i've learnt now to look at the person, smile, say thank you and then let it be. and that has helped me. that ole 'fake it til you make it'...
ReplyDeleteI used to find it dificult to accept compliments, not because i was being noble, but because i didnt love myself enough.
ReplyDeleteNow things are better it took God and a conscious effort to work on my self esteem issues.
Now i smile and accept the compliments....and i tell myself i'm even worth more than the compliment
Thanks for sharing
I used to have such a difficult time with compliments! I thought if I just said "thank you" and nothing else, that I was not be humble, etc. Now, I try really hard to just say thank you and smile. I don't always succeed at this, but it is getting better.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure I'll be thinking about this post more today, JBR. Thanks!
I use to find it very hard to accept or give a compliment. I felt so unworthy to accept and inadequate to give out. Then God got a hold of me and started building me up and I realized if I didn't accept His compliments then i couldn't possibly believe Him that He is good and He doesn't make junk. I realized that if I really love Him like I claim I do, then I need to accept and believe these compliments that He gives me. So I started out small and in no time at all I could receive and give.
ReplyDeleteI love God and believe Him. Sometimes I start to doubt my worth, then He comes in and floods me with love and I realize ol Satan is up to his tricks trying to knock me out of the Kingdom.
You are precious, priceless and so special. You, Grace, are dearly loved and totally beautiful. You are needed.
Hugs,
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Humbly speaking, compliments belong to the Lord as well as the insults; it is contrition, the Lord desires. There is no shame in understanding our value is the Lord’s alone and in the Lord alone.
ReplyDeleteWe are all being sold a bill of goods about our self-esteem, how are we to esteem something we are to die to daily. The Lord tells us to die to self, pick up our cross and follow Him. The Scriptures also tells us to be careful when men speak well of us. Some compliments are sincere and like all gifts, we say thank you with our heads bowed to God for He is the giver of all things good.
There is nothing wrong with this kind of response, it honors God and not self. God’s opinion of us in spite of our sin nature is the value we hold to feel the full weight of our value. God cherished us so much that He paid the price for the judgment of our sins with His only begotten Son.
That is where our value lies, and eternal not temporal place. Compliments are humbly received and handed to God, where they belong. I too had to learn to simply say, “Thank you and to God be the glory.” God had sent a humble servant to show me to just be polite and say such. After a while the understanding hit me, just as I passed my hurt to God, so shell I pass the compliments, it all belongs to Him.
I agree, it all belongs to God.
ReplyDelete