Our world is so focused on pointing out the bad or "unacceptable" in everything we do. With so much negative, some people may begin to feel as if they are worthless, lost, and under appreciated. This has the ability to become quite a problem in the long run. When people begin to feel loss in self worth they worry about what will next befall them, where they are going to have to go next, and sometimes even why they are even here at all. Our society has made us think that tearing someone down will also help build them up so they can grow, but in the case of some, it only tears them down. Constant tearing down will eventually break a person down completely and totally. In this day and age, the majority of our young people face being brought down about 30 to 40 times a day, making this the most prevalent part of their memory. Some of the tearing down that is performed isn't even meant to tear someone down; a joke that is "just a joke" may seem like nothing to the person that said it, but to the person on the receiving end of the (just a) joke might not think the same thing. If someone isn't being particularly nice in their joking manner the recipient may feel dejected, abused, or even like an object to toy with. Often times, if the recipient becomes angry at the "joker" the joker will respond with the common saying of, "I was just joking!!!" Sometimes they really were just joking and they have hit a sore subject with the person, others know it will hurt the person, but continue anyway... only to decide they don't want to get a bad rep.
I want to challenge anyone who reads this to truly try and find something good in a person that maybe not everyone sees. If someone does something wrong, correct them lovingly, not in a defiling manner. Try to applaud them for what they do, bring out the good in them! Just because they don't do it back doesn't mean that is how it will always be! Keep the trend (even if you are the only one doing it) going!!! It is likely to catch on to some others eventually! And last but not least, if someone does something wrong or bad, remember "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." This is from John 8:7. Remember we are all sinners, do not condemn one another, but love one another and show them God's love! :) God Bless!
