Our Words for the Week come from Dick Innes founder of Acts International, a website designed to help enrich and enhance the personal and relational life of visitors;  to help deal with the challenging issues and struggles almost everyone faces in life from time to time; and to help improve the quality of every day life-emotionally, relationally, and spiritually.

A man bought a parrot at an auction after some heavy bidding. “I hope this bird talks,” he told the auctioneer.

“Talk?” the auctioneer replied, “Who do you think has been bidding against you for the past ten minutes?”

Sad to say we seem to be living in a day when a person’s word has less and less value. Once upon a time a man’s word was his bond. Not any more I’m afraid. For far too many their word doesn’t mean a thing. We’ve become pretty adept at parroting what we think people want to hear.

I remember one of my college professors teaching us that a person’s character (among other things) could be measured by what value he or she put on his/her word. People who don’t keep their word have a character issue and cannot be trusted.

Fortunately, however, of one thing we can be certain God always keeps his word and always keeps his promises. To be Christ-like we need to do the same! For after all, it’s what we do, not what we say, that says the most of all.

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER:

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.

— Mother Teresa