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A Challange

by Scott Brookshire  
1/17/2011 / Christian Living

Not too long ago my best friend made me a challenge. I accepted it and thought that that it would make a difference in my life but never realized how lacking I really was. I knew that the challenge was made because I did need to improve in this area but as time has gone on I noticed how much I needed to change. The challenge was this, exactly as she put it to me:

My challenge to you is:

"If you have a positive thought about someone, anyone, TELL them." It is their choice to accept it or deny it or how they interpret it. You are going to benefit in so many ways from doing this.

There are some people who NEED to hear the positive things.
There are other people who WANT to hear the positive things.
There are those people who CANNOT hear the positive things.

It is Gods place to take care of those things.

It is OUR place to spread that good wherever and whenever we can.

I am going to take this same challenge into my own life.

I admit there are times when I just see the bad and the frustrating.

Let's see how this changes our perspective."


We all during the day say positive things to others. Many of those things we say are just common courtesy. We say thank you when someone holds a door for us. We ask someone how are you doing today, even thought we really don't want to hear anything but good or okay.

But what about positive encouragement that is unsolicited? Think about that for a minute. How many times have your heard someone talk about what they were doing or how hard there day was. Common responses are, "It will be okay", You will be fine" or "I understand." There are times that these are appropriate. But what about the times when there are other ways to respond? What did you do then?

I realized not as much as I should have been. I heard what kind of day they were having and gave a generic responds many times. Then came her challenge. I thought about how I could respond to what people said or did. The struggle for me was getting over the fear that others would think I was just trying to appease them. That I would not be taken seriously. But I took her challenge on. And boy did I learn something.

I learned that telling a person that they are strong for doing what they are doing. Or telling them how proud I was for what they did. Or telling them you are a great person and are doing well even though it may not appear that way makes a difference. Not only for them, but for me.

I have seen those who need positive things be happy that I have said something. I have seen those who need positive things smile. And I've seen those that cannot accept it look at me with a look as to say, what is this all about?

My attitude for the most part is positive. I didn't always express it as I should have but as a whole that's the way I am. I am an optimist. I believe there are solutions for most problems. And I am a hopeless romantic. But one drawback that I had to being this way was on the inside I would get frustrated at those who didn't always think that way.

But now things have changed. I have gotten rid of that frustration and put it towards her challenge. By taking that attitude and saying positive things to others and not worrying about how it may appear or whether or not they want to hear it, I can show others who I am. I can let them see the person that I am. Especially those who I thought weren't sure. Or whom I was afraid that they would look at what I said with hesitation.

I have a new perspective on life now. This challenge said:

It is Gods place to take care of those things.
1 Timothy 4:4 says:

"For everything created by God is good,
and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude;"

God will make up for what I lack. He will be there that if I speak to help those hear what I have to say.

And then this part of the challenge:

"It is OUR place to spread that good wherever and whenever we can."

Proverbs 17:22 say it the best as far as I am concerned:

A cheerful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

But what to me has the most meaning of this challenge and trusting in God, and my dear friend reminding me and nor knowing what I would get out of her challenge was this:

Matthew 15:11
"What goes into someone's mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them."

I have a new perspective on what comes out of my mouth. I never knew what an effect this challenge would have on me. But I will never forget what it has done for me.

Is this a challenge you are willing to take?

My name is Scott Brookshire. I live in Lavallette, NJ. I am just a regular man who has been moved by the Lord to share with others. This Challenge was written not knowing the effect it would have on people.

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