Just A Thought ~ SPRAISE GIVEN AND RECEIVED

"Praise is like sunshine to the human spirit; we cannot flower without it."

~ Henry N. Ferguson ~

Praise is sweet, but we must know the difference between genuine, deserved praise and hollow flattery, so that we don't get led astray. We all know the tale about the fox who tricked the crow into letting go of the bread in its beak by asking it to sing; no-one had ever asked the crow to sing before.

Without false modesty, we should graciously accept praise in the spirit it is given, too, and thank the giver as we would for another type of gift. If we refuse a freely-given gift, the giver may be hurt or offended.

Honest praise is also something we should give as well as receive; some people have lots of praiseworthy qualities, while others have few; but if we look hard enough, we will find something, and it can make a great deal of difference if we do; a few drops of kindness may soften hard hearts.