THE GREATEST OF ALL THESE IS CHARITY
– 1 Cor. 13
What is charity? Def. of love from RLT. It requires work. “Random acts of kindness”
Single small acts of out-of-the-way kindness spawn additional similar acts
No expectations. Self-sustaining, world could soon be filled with them. Examples
Begin to do these things, they become a habit. You will feel better and happier
Will have done your share to make this world a better place
While you’re at it, do some acts of kindness for yourself—you deserve it! Examples
Jesus is our model. Possible to obey, avoid temptation, perform miracles, etc, as he?
How, in any important way, be like him? “He that hath done it unto the least of these”
Most important thing we can do for people? 1st, Gospel, 2d, Charity. Monson
One of the most important acts of love we can do for others is build their self-image
Everyone is insecure. Everyone needs strokes. Self image is a fragile thing
Saying: You can’t draw water if the well is dry, so you first have to fill your own
Four things necessary for self esteem: CAST. Who are you? Utah Patriarch
To really lift others requires more than superficial compliments. Cf. RAK. Def. of love
Praise must recognize, accurately describe, something in the other that is good and true
It must come from deep inside and it must go deep inside. Story of Renee
You have to really know the person you want to compliment
Praise that builds esteem requires time, effort, and attention
Most too busy paying attention to themselves. To illustrate, watch a typical argument
Learning to understand people is a gift for some, acquired for others. Karli
As you learn to understand people, you begin to observe the signs of pain:
Over-sensitivity, bragging, disagreement, arrogance, defensiveness. You can respond
You will also notice something else—something that is really important.
A keen sense of the qualities, gifts, and value of people. “Everyone has a story”
Not only “Nice job”, able to describe qualities and abilities that motivated and enabled them
Easy, with practice, to do this for people you like. Doing so is good, but no great virtue
You know you’ve reached advanced stage when can do it for people you do not like
Jesus said, “Love your enemies, do good to them that despitefully use you”
Everyone has qualities; those you don’t like are probably in greater need
There must be a reason you don’t like them! Eg. Arrogance
Complimenting others is a sign, as well as a tool, of leadership
Paradoxically, praising others will do even more for you than it does for them
You will feel good but, more, you will be strengthening your own leadership skills
“Cast thy bread upon the water” is true; frequently does not take “many days” to return
Observe interview dynamics: Interviewer, at least in interview, one with higher status
Interviewers typically give strokes to those interviewed
When being interviewed, to some extent you can turn the tables – kinda fun!
Imagine the growth building self esteem could create among members of a group
Your family, ward, work, community. Begin with RAK and move up from there
If continued for a time, the process would reach critical mass and be self-sustaining
The self esteem, happiness, and emotional health of all would lock into a spiral upward
That surely was a characteristic of the City of Enoch and the Nephites after Jesus
Jesus’s mission on earth, with atonement, was to lift those who suffered and struggled
Have discussed one of most effective ways
Old saying: If not me, who? If not now, when? Will you?