"With God's Grace Our Worst Past
Becomes Our Best Future"
Becomes Our Best Future"
Photo by Henri Pham on Unsplash
And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased (Hebrews 13:6 NIV)
I hadn’t had a professional manicure in quite some time. But my upcoming trip to Colorado for my granddaughter’s college graduation enticed me to “go for it.”
The young manicurist didn’t speak much English and seemed to have a hard time understanding me. Fortunately, her supervisor, who was also Asian, spoke English and translated for me. I could only hope what I needed wouldn’t get lost in translation.
Once the manicurist understood what I wanted, alternating colors to match my granddaughter’s college colors, we set down to work. I said, “I know, crazy old lady.”
She smiled. I noticed she had one of the most engaging and beautiful smiles I’d ever seen. I told her she had a very beautiful smile, and added, “You’re very pretty.”
She looked confused. So her supervisor translated. Then she blushed as she said, “No one ever say, I pretty.”
“You like mother-in-law,” she said.
Not sure what she meant, she showed me a picture of her mother-in-law she kept on her phone, Caucasian women about my age.
I thought, how sad, no one ever told her how beautiful she was. I was glad I gave her some positive reinforcement. “You are very pretty, and never forget it,” I said.
In our divided and negative culture, I hear very few encouraging words exchanged between people. Positive thoughts are buried beneath mounds of anger, disappointment, and hostility.
The above verse not only reminds us to be kind and good in our actions, but I believe the command carries over to our dialogue as well.
My mother used to say, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.”
Amen, Mom.
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AS THE RIVER RUNS
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LEAVING THE SILENT MAJORITY
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GOD'S CHILD NEED NOT FEAR
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A RECIPE FOR CHURCHES
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THE CALL AGAINST THE JITTERS
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LIVING LIKE GOD'S CHILD
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DON'T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF
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THE POWER OF THE WORD
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IMMEASURABLY MORE
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RESTORATION IS A PROCESS
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HIS PLANS FOR ME
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No Condemnation
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IS THERE PURPOSE IN YOUR TROUBLES?
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GOD GOES BEFORE US
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BE OF GOOD CHEER
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ACCORDING TO HIS PLANS
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Constantly Abiding
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SHINE FROM WITHIN
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THE TRUE WORK
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AS IN THE DAYS OF THE APOSTLES
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It's A Good Thing I Love You
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NO ONE EVER SAY I PRETTY
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Do All You Have in Mind
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PERSEVERE BY MOVING FORWARD
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POINTS TO PONDER
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CHRIST IS TRUTH
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The Intimacy of God
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WHEN YOUR GET UP GO GETS UP AND GOES
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EVEN TO MY GRAY HAIRS
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BIG FOOT AND DOUBT
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SHEPHERD OF THE AGES
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NOT ALONE
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OUT OF THE WHIRLWIND
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GET OUT OF OUR COMFORT ZONE
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Stop Grumbling
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ENCOURAGEMENT EVEN IN OUR FAILURES
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WHAT TOMORROW MAY BRING
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THE BEAUTY OF GOD'S WORD
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GOD IS OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH
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THE PRAYER OF JABEZ
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LET GOD DIRECT YOUR STEPS
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BARREN PLACES
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SUMMATION OF THE LAW
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IS GOD FORGETFUL?
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MUSIC MEMORIES
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WHEN THE WEAKER WINS
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MONUMENTS OF BLESSINGS
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WHAT IS TRUE PROSPERITY
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FINDING CONTENTMENT
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THE MOST BEAUTIFUL OF JEWELS
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THE KEY TO ANSWERED PRAYER
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