Appreciate the people in your life

Hi guys!! So I haven't been feeling too well and I asked my mum to write a piece for you guys. She's full of so much knowledge and she's an author of a few books. Anyways, since it's also a week where we've chosen to recognise and appreciate women, I thought it'd be a great idea to have the most influential woman in my life speak to you. So find her message below. P.S. I love you and God loves you .

Esther xoxo

The foundation of all human relationship emanated from God. There are people God placed in your life for different assignments. Some are placed there for spiritual support, some for social support, some for domestic support, some for emotional support, and some are there to help you to your next level.

If you expect the person God has placed around you for spiritual support to support you socially, you will abuse the relationship when you demand and expect more than they can offer. There are people that can carry out more than one role in your life, but you have to be able to identify who God has called them to be in your life.

Many have made a mess of relationships that God arranged for them because of their lack of knowledge and understanding .

It is very important that you accept who people are in your life and cherish the relationships. Appreciate God for putting them in your life and appreciate them for the impact they are making in your life. Don’t take people around you for granted, God placed them in your life for a purpose. Some people fight with their Pastor because he did not sit at the reception for their son's birthday. Get real!!!

No man owes you anything. Anyone that's done you a favour was God's hands of help. God graced them to be of help.

Expecting them to be who God has not called them to be in your life will make their calling less effective in your life. You should maintain who God has called you to be in their lives, irrespective of the roles they've played in your life. Proverbs 27:17, 2 Corinthians 5:20., 1 John 4:12.

So how should you manage your relationships?

1. Appreciate the act of God in your life: The most important relationship you must know how to keep is the one with God. Therefore, you must be appreciative of His faithfulness, goodness, mercies and all the good things He has done in your life. A relationship with God is the best thing that can ever happen to anyone. Having a relationship with God can lead to the end of some other relationships. This is because they might not be able to understand you any longer because of the new wavelength you operate in. No offence, some will catch up later and some might not catch up forever. No matter who catches up or who does not, don't compromise your relationship with God for any relationship. 1 Timothy 6:11-12, 1 Chronicles 16:34, John 12:32, Psalm 9:1, Psalm 103:1-5.

2. Appreciate people for who they are in your life: Many of us have people in our lives, who have been a blessing one way or the other. However, we have never appreciated them for that part they played or are still playing in our lives. They must have made a sacrifice one way or the other to do what they have done, no matter how little you think it is. Appreciate them for what you counted as little, that will give them the encouragement to do more and to feel valued. 1 Thessalonians 5:11, Hebrews 3:13, Romans 12:10, Hebrew 10:24

3. Appreciate and celebrate them when they are alive: Many never realised that they were loved by their loved ones because it was never verbalized to them, or those who verbalised it did not show it in their actions. Many never get to be celebrated or appreciated during their life time, but they get celebrated after their death . Appreciation and celebration after the person has gone without celebrating them when alive is of no use. Many husbands and wives never appreciated their spouse for the part they played in their life until after their death, which was too late. Many never appreciated their parents until they died, many never appreciated their friends and families for the part they played and are still playing in their life. Learn to appreciate the people around you and the relationships that you have while they are still there.1 Thessalonians 4:9, 1 Peter 4:9, 1 Thessalonians 5:13, Romans 15:14

4. Don't judge anyone by the help they are not able to render today: Many forget who people have been in their lives in the past and judge them by the help they are not able to render in their lives now. They had the grace to be of help at that time. They can only do what God has graced them to do. Appreciate them for who they have been, and the contributions they've made in your life, even if it's as "small" as making you smile. Someone you see as invalid today might be a blessing to you tomorrow. Luke 7:23.

5. Make up your mind to do good to all: Be who you have to be in people’s lives irrespective of the role they played or are playing in your life. Love all irrespectively, as your heavenly father has loved you. Be good to all you come in contact with, even if they are bad. Do all that you do, as unto the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 5:15, 1 Peter 1:22, Philippians 2:3, Act 10:38, John 13:34, Mathew 5:44, Romans 13:8, Colossians 3:17.

Conclusion

People around you are gifts of God to you. Learn to acknowledge and appreciate them. But don’t forget to appreciate the one who put them in your life. God positioned them in your life for a purpose. As Christ is the head of the Church and we are the body. The same way, people around you are meant to play a part or a role in your life. That does not make them your God, but instruments in the hands of God to make you who you are to be.

SHALOM

Pastor Mrs Oluwatoyin Babatunde