Commend And Recommend - The One Year Daily Acts of Kindness Devotional

Commend and Recommend

Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

Ephesians 4:29

Spotting my friend at church one Sunday, I made a beeline for her. After exchanging greetings and pleasantries, I got to the point: the girl who used to nanny for my kids was looking for a job for the summer, and I knew this woman was searching for someone to watch her own two children. I told her how this teenager had started out as a babysitter but now felt more like a daughter to us. “My children love her,” I raved, “and so do we. I’m sure she would do an amazing job for you.” I sang her praises some more, and then, seeing that the service was about to begin, waved goodbye and continued on with my morning.

The girl got the job. Knowing how personable she is and what great rapport she has with kids, I’m sure she could have gotten the job by herself. Plus, my conversation was brief and took almost no effort. But when we recognize the talents and abilities someone else has, it never hurts to praise them, whether the words are spoken to them or to someone else. When we remember to “let everything [we] say be good and helpful,” the purpose is clear: positive words are an encouragement to those who hear them. And they just might be the added push someone needs to move forward.

Whom can you recommend to someone else? It might not be for a job, so think outside the box. Is there someone whose leadership abilities you admire, who you think would make a great candidate for a role in a ministry or in an organization in your community? Did you see the child of a friend or neighbor doing something kind for someone else? You could tell their parents they are doing a good job. Open your eyes to the ways you can speak encouragement to and about the people you know.

—Kristin

— Today’s Act of Kindness —

Intentionally praise someone’s gifts or abilities to another person.