I was just reading an article written by Lou Tice about receiving compliments. A lot of people today receive criticism as rejection and truth. Even though it hurts at times, we receive it and even if it's not valid or right, we'll meditate on it and allow it to bother us. A compliment, on the other hand, is defined as "an expression of praise or admiration." So, what's the best way to receive a sincere compliment? We should receive it graciously and respond accordingly. A negative example would be if someone compliments us and we respond to it unfavorably by putting ourselves down, or using phrases like, "I just got lucky." What if someone compliments you on what you are wearing or how you look, and you respond with, "This old thing?" The bottom line is that we need to respond properly to a sincere compliment and if you don't know what to say, saying, "thank you," shows respect for both yourself and the one giving the compliment. When you reject a compliment by bad-mouthing yourself, you are showing little or no respect to the one who gave it. Let's not be deceived when it comes to giving and receiving compliments. When a person is giving a sincere compliment, isn't that a person showing loving support to the one they are giving the compliment to? Let's learn to receive from the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ when it comes to the words of affirmation we call compliments. Pastor Steve Smothermon Legacy Church www.LifeatLegacy.com