Yesterday was a good day for me.  Lindsay and Dana greeted me in the morning with warm wishes and affirmations of love.  Then I got an e-mail from Andrea where she listed 53 things she loved about me.  Then at supper time we went out to eat with the Sebastians and they went around the table expressing how they felt about me.  I have to say that it truly was difficult to hear these things because I know how much room for improvement there still is.   However, as I pondered the day I came to a realization.  Of all the wonderful things they said about me there was a common thread – each one of the attributes had something to do with how I made a point to value each of them in my life.  The things they commented on were the ways and times that I placed their needs above my own, or the times where I made it clear to them just how special they were to me.  Each time I did that, they felt significant and loved and encouraged.  And if you know anything about people you will know that these are the basic needs in all men, women and children.  Of course I give God the glory for working through me, but I have to say that my hope and desire was to “be Christ” around them.   I have long maintained that when we simply strive to be Christ around people,  that the Christ in us reaches out to them.  People can feel that and they respond to it.  I believe they are strengthened by it.   When I leave people’s presence I want them to miss being with me – or more specifically – being with the Christ in me.  The only way that happens is when I step aside and let God…

 Now, I must be quick to add that I do not always do this right.  Oh how I wish I did !  It is those failures that I remember on days like my Birthday when people say such wonderful things.    I know that I am only human, but I really do want to be more like Christ every day.  I want people to always feel closer to God when they are with me because I’ve stepped out of the way and let the Christ in me minister to them.  This is the goal of my counseling, and with my family and friends.  Oh dear God let it be true of me with all people you place in my path.