(This is challenge one and I believe it may be the most important one. I will review it often. My prayer is that this will become a daily part of our lives!)
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8 (NIV)
I am a firm believer that our true character is who we are at home, so let’s begin there. Today, find ways to show your gratitude for those closest to you. Have a conversation at the breakfast table, or at dinner. “Our words have power to build up and to tear down. My desire is to see us encourage one another. I’ll go first and I hope you’ll join me. _______, I see strength in you when you _______________.” Or, “_________, you display good character when you _____________.” Or, “____________, I appreciate when you _________.”
Use this list to help you!
HONORABLE CHARACTER TRAITS
accountable, accepting, adaptable, adventurous, affable, affectionate, agreeable, alert, ambitious, amiable, amicable, amusing, appropriate, articulate, aspiring, assertive, astute, attentive, authentic, aware, brave, bright, broad-minded, calm, candid, capable, careful, certain, charming, charismatic, cheerful, Christ-like, clear, collaborative, committed, communicative, compassionate, conscientious, considerate, connected, conscience, considerate, consistent, contributes, cooperative, convivial, courageous, courteous, creative, curious, decisive, dedicated, determined, devoted, diligent, diplomatic, direct, disciplined, discreet, dynamic, easygoing, effective, efficient, empathetic, emotional, empowering, encouraging, energetic, enthusiastic, ethical, excitable, expressive, extroverted, exuberant, facilitates, fair, fair-minded, faithful, fearless, flexible, focused, forceful, forgiving, frank, free, friendly, funny, generous, gentle, godly, good, grateful, gregarious, happy, hard-working, helpful, hilarious, holy, honest, honorable, humble, humorous, imaginative, immaculate, impartial, independent, innovative, inquiring, inquisitive, integrates, integrity, intellectual, intentional, intelligent, interested, intimate, intuitive, inventive, just, jovial, jolly, joyful, kind, knowledgeable, leading, listener, lively, logical, lovely, loving, loyal, manages time well, mature, modest, neat, networks, nice, nurturer, open-minded, optimistic, organized, passionate, patient, peaceful, peppy, persistent, pioneering, philosophical, placid, planner, poised, polite, powerful, playful, practical, presents self well, pro-active, problem solver, productive, punctual, quick-witted, quiet, rational, realistic, reliable, reserved, resourceful, respectful, responsible, self-confident, self-controlled, self-disciplined, sense of humor, selfless, sensible, sensitive, serious, servant, sincere, skillful, sociable, spiritual, spontaneous, stable, straightforward, strong, successful, supportive, sympathetic, tactful, tenacious, thoughtful, tidy, tough, trusting, trustworthy, truthful, unassuming, understanding, unpretentious, unselfish, versatile, vibrant, warm, warmhearted, willing, wise, witty, youthful, zealous
The goal is to focus on WHO THEY ARE, rather than WHAT THEY DO. Instead of saying, “Son, you are a good athlete,” I can say, “Son, you display perseverance and tenacity when you are on the ball court. I appreciate your hard work as you move toward your goal of being a starter on the team.” Being a good athlete may or may not be in my child’s control. Working hard and reaching a desired goal is something he has worked hard for and that should be acknowledged.
There are many ways to bless our family members, today let’s use words of praise to build them up.
Heavenly Father, I ask You to open my eyes to see the good in others. It is so easy to see their flaws, but I know You want to reveal character that is true, noble, right, pure and lovely. As I speak words of affirmation over my spouse, my children and others, I believe You will use those words to heal them.
