Build relationships with compliments

"A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver."

- Proverbs 25:11 (NIV)

I recently received an email from a childhood friend who found me through an internet search. A warmth filled my heart when I read her kind words.

It went something like this: "I remember the canned red-fruit punch your mother bought, and the kindness she showed in allowing you to share it with me."

Compliments keep our hearts tender and energize our souls. They don't just nurture the recipient, but have a special way of strengthening the soul of the giver as well.

Compliments can be words of praise such as, "I like your new car; the way you wear your hair; your knack for understanding me warms my heart; or a job well done!"

They can also be given as a formal act of courtesy, when we esteem the hostess of a party or thank the store clerk for good service.

Gracious words are so important to our well-being that experts say the average employee is not just interested in being paid a decent wage, but desires to be given a word of admiration regarding their work when handling a job well.

In modern culture, words offered out are often offensive, harsh, or arrogant, yielding results that are contrary and counterproductive, rather than kindhearted compliments that build our well-being and foster productivity.

Uncomplimentary words cause us to become harsh, bitter, and uncaring, ruining our relationships with spouses, children and others and tearing down the best of marriages, business partnerships, and parent-child bonding.

God wants us to speak words that will bring life to the souls of those around us. We may not like everything about a person, but if we look close enough, we may find there is something we can openly admire about them.

Just think how offering kind words will actually help them look forward to seeing us rather than running the other way. Why not sharpen our word skills and build up relationships as we compliment someone today?

• Annettee Budzban is a Christian author, speaker, life coach and nurse. She is available to speak at your group or business or be your personal life coach. Contact Annettee at annetteebudzban@aol.com or (847) 543-8413, or visit www.annetteebudzban.com.