10-17-21 Sun and Rain
Quote: “Accept both compliments and criticism. It takes both sun and rain for a flower to grow.”
Wouldn’t it be a wonderful world if we were given compliments all day long? Like if we served our children breakfast and they said, “Wow Mom! Look at you blessing me with this delicious breakfast so bright and early this morning! Thank you so much!” Or if we walked into work and our coworkers said, “Well look at you coming to work with a bright and cheerful smile. So glad you chose to work with us today!” Or as we hurriedly entered the grocery store and the manager greeted us with, “Well of all the places you could have chosen to get your last minute needs, you chose us! We are so grateful and might I add, you are looking positively beautiful this afternoon!” We would probably just stand in awe with our mouths wide open if any of these things happened!
Compliments are fun, they fill our love tanks, and they remind us that there are good humans out there. But criticism? Well, that’s a different story. I don’t know anyone who gets excited for criticism. I’ve never heard someone say, “I sure hope I get blessed with lots of criticism today!”
That’s why I loved this quote about the flower, needing both sun and rain to grow. Criticism, when given in a loving and constructive way, can help us grow and become better versions of ourselves. If we are always on the defense and think we are good just the way we are, we show the world that there is no need to get better. We are not supposed to be stagnant people. We should be changing and evolving and growing our whole life.
Don’t we want to be the best people we can possibly be while we are here?
God thinks so. The Bible urges us in many verses that it is wise to take advice and feedback from others to better ourselves. It even says that we are fools to not heed wisdom. The book of Proverbs is packed full of verses on wisdom. One of my favorites is Proverbs 13:10 which says, “Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.” Such a truthbomb verse!
I know that all of us can think of those that think their poop doesn’t stink, or however the saying goes. Pride enters when we think we are just too great to need sound advice from others. We can always do better. And I truly believe we should never stop bettering ourselves. We should never stop learning, never stop serving, never stop traveling, and never stop making new memories with new people in new places. The more experiences we have, the more well-rounded and diverse we become! The more people we meet, the more wisdom and advice that can be shared with us, from many different backgrounds.
Enjoy the compliments, sure, but don’t ignore the criticism. Look at it differently – see it as opportunities to self examine. Ask God for the truth in people’s feedback and then keep on becoming the person you were meant to be!
Soak in the sun and be reflective in the rain.
