A couple of times this week, people said some really nice things to me. I was caught somewhat off guard.
A friend of mine lost his mom to cancer this week. I don’t know him all that well. We’re both involved in student ministries at our church, and while we don’t really spend much time together, that is certainly a common bond.
There was a time at a youth conference a year ago we were dancing in the back of this big room during a hip-hop worship concert…we didn’t look good, and I think we scared a lot of the kids who saw us… but we had fun together.
Well, his mom died, and I was scheduled to have lunch with a mutual friend, and the friend (who I believe knows this guy much better than I do) suggested we go to the calling hours together.
At the calling hours, this guy put his arm around me for the longest time as we watched a powerpoint slide show of his mom, just watching as the music played. He told me several times how much it meant to him that I came. I know that’s something you say at those types of things… but I think he really meant it.
Sometimes we don’t realize how much we mean to people. I sure don’t understand why he felt that way, but I’m glad I went.
A few years ago, I was in a group with 2 other guys… we tried to meet once a month for an hour, just to talk and pray for each other. We didn’t really know each other well, although we began to. Then it kind of fell by the wayside. It didn’t last long, 8-10 months maybe? Anyway, today I had my son at the dentist and I was sitting in the waiting room, well, waiting. One of these guys, his wife came in for a cleaning. When she came out, she sat down next to me and asked if my ears were burning.
She told me that they were talking back there about how much good I do, at work, at church, and what a great guy I am. I laughed and told her I don’t feel all that much like a great guy, more like I’m overwhelmed and just hanging on! She assured me that I have it together, and told me she appreciated me.
I respect her judgment, so I’ve been thinking a lot about what she said. I think that we often see ourselves both inside and outside – but others really only see outside, and maybe a little of the inside, but only what we show them. So it’s hard for us to understand the view of us that others have.
I’d like to capture that view of myself. I might relax a little more, not try to hard, and maybe have a little more satisfaction in what I do. But I’m glad people see that good stuff. I need to focus on that more myself.