As I reflect on life I remember a video that was shown in my church back when I was 16. It was what appeared to be a “futile attempt” by the adults of the church to show our youth program a story about life and the value of inner beauty. About 50 of us kids sat there not too interested in this short video about native customs. Although many of us laughed at the video that day, it did strike home. Today I see so many people in their daily lives just living and accepting what life has given them and accepting that life and they themselves won’t get any better. They come on Facebook and share everything from “a love gone wrong” to “who did them wrong” to what they had for breakfast.
My workplace once tried to “motivate” their employees by using the slogan “I add value”. Didn’t work, but I often wonder if the people I encounter know how “they add value?” I have so many fascinating friends that have so much to offer the community, their friends, their families, their significant other and yet because they assume they are not needed or not good enough, they let the opportunity go and don’t offer an encouraging word or make the attempt to deepen the relationship. I hear many quote the Good Book, “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you”. But yet many wait til either a tragedy occurs or til it hits the point where an apology is extremely uncomfortable to offer. We want the other side to treat us better, but yet we have inside of us an inner beauty that can bring out the best in the other person and if we have to bite our tongues a little, so what? Will it really hurt that much?
I admire the many marriages, relationships and friendships that are based on chemistry, love, hard work and of course God’s love. Many of us look for the perfect partner or perfect friend. We see others that have wonderful relationships and wonder either why them or why not me? But we can have what they have but how do we get that? We have to simply work harder on the relationship by communicating and asking our love or friend what their needs and wants are. But we also have to share our needs and wants. We can work on building chemistry by seeking to share in a friend’s passion for a charity or hobby.
We seek an answer from God, not by just praying but by actually going to church every Sunday and perhaps even getting involved. We offer love from the magical “I love you’s” to the “I so appreciate you in my life” statements. Those are great but there has to be more. But if you know your value and what you can offer to any soul, why not offer your best at all times? So many think “the other person doesn’t always deserve my best” but yet you will sit back and wonder why didn’t the relationship work when it was you that could have taken that extra effort.
And if you struggle with any of these, seek help through a friend, book or a Pastor. It’s too easy to walk away and find another partner in this age of 5 yr marriages. Best friends are precious. You don’t find the perfect partner. You find that person and create the perfect relationship.
I knew a woman who offered a book on marriage to her best friend. Her best friend refused to read the book so she read the book for her then relayed that wisdom to her. Her marriage was one blessed by God, but she wanted to learn a little more to help her best friend through her dysfunctional marriage. Now that’s love and knowing she could add value to her best friend.
We all have that type of inner beauty inside of us. We can position ourselves to use that inner beauty for our benefit and the benefit of those around us. So I ask you, do you add value? And what one thing can you do today that will show “your loved ones” that you add value to their life? Perhaps, you are showing them how they add value to your life? Perhaps you are teaching them to love you at the same time? So, are you working that inner beauty that you and only you uniquely have?
Okay, off my soapbox. . .
