When the clock strikes twelve on December 31st, people all
over the world cheer and wish each other a very Happy New Year. For some, the New
Year symbolizes the beginning of a better tomorrow. For me, it brings a
reminder to cherish the people in my life today.
No one knows what the New Year will
bring, but I can bring some hope into the lives around me in 2013. So if you
look forward to a good year ahead, practice some of these things below. It can
change someone’s life and also your own in 2013.
Acceptance is when
we willingly and unconditionally love someone. Can you look beyond a person’s
faults and still care for them? There’s not a better way to give a person hope
than by accepting them for who they are, not for what they do.
Love is expressing care through physical touch and tender words. Tell people you love them. Tell your spouse, your children, and your colleagues. Tell people in the hospital, at weddings, at funerals. Try calling someone today and say, “I wanted to give you a quick call to tell you thank you for being part of our church family and for being a good friend. I love you, and I’m proud to call you friend.”
Approval is by building up or affirming a person and acknowledging the importance of the relationship. An employer I know called out a young man in an employee meeting: “Josh, the way you organize the office has made everybody so pleased. We can find things now. You are making everybody’s work so much easier. Thank you so much.” The boss made a big deposit.
Connection is when we enter another person’s world. There is no substitute for spending time with someone. And it’s not just time—it’s time and really listening to people from your heart. If you will truly listen to someone, whether they are happy or sad, they will feel better. “Being heard is so close to being loved that for the average person, they are almost indistinguishable.” David Augsburger
Encouragement happens when urging people to hang in there, to persist toward the goal they so want to achieve. Send notes, phone someone, pray with someone, take someone to dinner or a movie. People are dying for someone to say, “I’m so proud of what you are doing. You make this world a better place to live in.”
Respect is by honoring and regarding people as important. Do you show deference to your spouse’s opinion? Do you listen to your children? Do you respect people’s time? Do you respect people from different backgrounds and religions?
Love is expressing care through physical touch and tender words. Tell people you love them. Tell your spouse, your children, and your colleagues. Tell people in the hospital, at weddings, at funerals. Try calling someone today and say, “I wanted to give you a quick call to tell you thank you for being part of our church family and for being a good friend. I love you, and I’m proud to call you friend.”
Approval is by building up or affirming a person and acknowledging the importance of the relationship. An employer I know called out a young man in an employee meeting: “Josh, the way you organize the office has made everybody so pleased. We can find things now. You are making everybody’s work so much easier. Thank you so much.” The boss made a big deposit.
Connection is when we enter another person’s world. There is no substitute for spending time with someone. And it’s not just time—it’s time and really listening to people from your heart. If you will truly listen to someone, whether they are happy or sad, they will feel better. “Being heard is so close to being loved that for the average person, they are almost indistinguishable.” David Augsburger
Encouragement happens when urging people to hang in there, to persist toward the goal they so want to achieve. Send notes, phone someone, pray with someone, take someone to dinner or a movie. People are dying for someone to say, “I’m so proud of what you are doing. You make this world a better place to live in.”
Respect is by honoring and regarding people as important. Do you show deference to your spouse’s opinion? Do you listen to your children? Do you respect people’s time? Do you respect people from different backgrounds and religions?
No
one is promised tomorrow, so let’s make sure we appreciate those around us
today.
Happy
New Year!
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