Compliments

“You have a beautiful family,” a middle aged man sitting behind me in church says during the sign of peace.   “Thank you,” I reply with a smile.  I know this.  I know I have good kids, but it’s nice to hear it from someone else, a  stranger no less. 

Our kids are very well behaved most of the time.  They are friendly.  They are polite.  We have our moments.  I would like to strangle them at times, but I couldn’t ask for better children.  We all think this of our kids, and rightly so.  As mothers we are proud of them.   We want the best for them.  We think they are the best.

Compliments like the one I got in church today don’t come every day.  I hear it every now and again, but I don’t think people realize the impact they make on each other when they compliment.  When I receive a compliment about my children it stays with me.  It helps during the frustrating times when I’ve asked Deegan to get dressed for the thousandth time and it is 10 minutes until we need to meet the bus.  It helps when Mazee’s screaming about Deegan throwing something at her.  It helps when I’m frazzled with getting four of us out the door in the morning.

Sincere compliments are special.  They are important.  And we are humans should compliment more often and receive compliments with grace.  We often try to shrug off compliments, but we should reply thank you and accept the compliment. 

My challenge to myself and all of you, sincerely compliment one person a day.