I hear of kind words/It lightens my heart and lifts my spirit
Posted on June 12, 2006 - Filed Under Uncategorized
I know these two guys at work, JW and KS. Friday was JW’s last day and KS used to work for us but moved on to another company but still works in the same building. Apparently, during a conversation over lunch Friday, KS told JW that his company was going to bid on a contract with our organization to provide computer support. KS said he’s got a pretty big vision for some changes that would happen within our organization should his company win the contract. He said he would like to put together a team of the best folks from within our ranks to make this happen. JW asked him to name names; the list included my name. On its own, this is a pretty significant compliment but it becomes even significant if one understands KS. He is a former member of military special forces, a person with very high standards, a very intelligent man with a good sense of how things work, and is highly regarded by his peers and superiors. He also (and JW brought this to mind by saying it) doesn’t just go around complimenting people; when he says something good about someone, he means it.
Anyway, this meant quite a bit to me. Everyone needs a good shot of self-esteem boost once in a while and after the week I had, it was perfect timing for me. But the other thing I think it extremely important about this is the fact that JW came to me with this. He could have just nodded his head when KS said it and moved on. Instead, being the genuinely good guy he is, he wanted me to know this and told me. It’s a great example to try to emulate; if we know of something that will make a person feel good about themselves and be encouraging to them, we really ought to do our best to pass it along to them. I’ve done this a couple times with Erin when other men have met her for the first time and later told me how attractive they thought she was.
So, it’s a good thing to be encouraging and to do our best to edify people.
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3 Responses to “I hear of kind words/It lightens my heart and lifts my spirit”
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It is great that you are that respected. I would have liked you to have that experience but I realize you needed to change. Teaching ought to be an experience and you certainly will have PEOPLE CONTACT.
jason i am so proud of you and to know that you are respected it makes my heart feel good and i am so thankful that you are my son i was told years ago that you were intelligent you were just a little guy then i know you will succed in your new job i wish you all the best love mom
Several days ago, a person identifying him/herself only as ‘Jim Bag’ left a very derogatory comment in response to this post. I am electing to delete it because 1. I can, 2. I don’t want that kind of energy conveyed on our site…it is primarily intended for sharing with our friends and family our progression as a family, a good and happy thing, and 3. the person lacked the courage to reveal their identity clearly. If they had done the last, I would have left the comment up because I try very hard to believe in everyone’s right to have and express their opinion.
That said, I feel some compassion for this person. Because they could not write what they did and attach their name, their cowardice is apparent and abundant. Life will doubtlessly subject them to some circumstance for which much greater courage is required. I can only hope, for their sake, that the gap between their present fortitude and that which they may possess in the future shrinks before that event presents itself.