Therefore encourage one another and build each other up. —1 Thessalonians 5:11
I’m an editor by trade. That means I’ve spent most of my adult life trying to correct mistakes. My husband says I can spot an error on a billboard while speeding by at eighty-five miles per hour.
But while that’s useful for proofreading, it’s not particularly helpful in relationships, especially marriage. If I’m not careful, I’m prone to point out the one thing that’s wrong (in my view) and slower to identify the ninety-nine things that are right.
On occasion, Robert has said, “I feel like you’re editing me.” I know in those moments he feels I’m not pulling for him. What he needs is an encourager, not an editor. So, I’ve made it my aim to build Robert up.
We all need honest input from those who know us best and can help us see blind spots. But our ability to give humble, helpful critique and have it be well-received is in direct proportion to the effort we make to give the gift of encouragement.
------------------
Adorned: Living Out the Beauty of the Gospel Together ©2017 Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations have been taken from the Christian Standard Bible ®. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible ® and CSB ® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.
Make it Personal
Are there areas where you’re “editing” someone in your life? How can you focus on encouraging and building them up instead?