Complaint or praise?

A young man decided to become a monk in a religious order that allowed monks to speak only two words every two years.

After his first two years of training, the young monk was invited by
his superior to make his two-word presentation. “Food terrible,” he said.

Two years later, at the invitation of his superior, he said, “bed lumpy.” And then two years later he went to his superior’s office and issued his
final two words, “I quit.”

The superior looked at the young monk and said, “you know, this doesn’t surprise me one bit. All you have done since you arrived is complain, complain, complain.”

Each of us may benefit from asking ourselves, “What would I say to the world if I had only two words to express my feelings? Would I utter a complaint or praise?” Our answer likely tells much about what dominates our thought during a given day.

Life is good. Do we see life that way?

People generally want to help and do the right thing. Do we see our neighbor that way?

God loves us and takes care of us in ways we often don’t realize or notice. Are we appreciative?

Tomorrow is always a new day. Are we expectant of progress?

God is a good God, and we are the beneficiaries of that goodness. Are we ready and receptive to the blessings coming our way?

The more we focus on the good, behold the good in others, and expect good, the less room there is for complaint in our thought. When we open our mouth, words of praise, joy and blessing come out, because that’s what we’re thinking about and grateful for.

And complaint…well,...what’s that? :)

“God loves a cheerful giver.” II Corinthians

Giving praise

Found an interesting web page on the value of praising children for work well done. This paragraph caught my eye on the importance of not qualifying your words of support, but ensuring they ring with sincerity:

Avoid giving praise with a sting in the tail. This sort of praise starts off well but ends with an implied criticism that wipes away the positive comment. For example, try not to say: “Rory, well done for making your bed - shame you don’t do it everyday” or “Lily, you shared your toy so nicely - what a pity you hit May with it yesterday".

Have you ever heard the rule, “It takes ten praises to outweigh the harm that comes from a single criticism?”

Children thrive on love and genuine affection. Love IS Life, after all, so why wouldn’t they!

We all thrive on love—giving it and receiving it. But love hedged about with qualification loses its appeal and doesn’t feel like love anymore.

We can do everyone a service, ourselves included, by offering praise that is genuine and sincere.

There is a freedom to be gained when we can drop the “only ifs…” and abundantly pour praise on acts and words worthy of commendation without feeling a need to stick a knife in somewhere and turn it a bit out of resentment.

From the Lord’s prayer, with it’s spiritual interpretation from Science and Health:

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

And Love is reflected in love; Mary Baker Eddy

Thanksgiving Day is a timely reminder to give thanks for all of our blessings.

Children are a blessing. Friends are a blessing. Neighbors are a blessing. Life is a blessing. The ability to love unselfishly and unconditionally is a blessing.

Let us give thanks in abundance this holiday, pour it out freely to all those around us, and feel the joy that comes from praising other’s good deeds without issuing an accompanying qualification.

May our praise be praiseworthy!