For this reason I remind you to fan into the flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying of hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:6-7)
Just like most parents, we experiment with ways to effectively discipline our three-year old son. Sometimes, we are effective and other times, he is unfazed by our attempts. I am no professional in child psychology, but it seems that when we use positive reinforcement, Elliott reacts positively. This morning, Elliott was being extremely difficult and whined a bit more than he usual does. Let me preface that an extended period of whining seems to elevate the stress level in the Fisher home and it's one heck of a way to begin the morning.
People will rise or fall to meet our level of expectations for them. If you expect people to let you down, they often will. The flip side is that if you put trust and belief into others, many times people will often exceed your expectations with being their very best. Another wonderful side effect of believing in others is that both people will begin to benefit. It's one of the greatest gifts we can possibly give to another person.
Believing is a quality of God that we often dismiss in the way we treat others. God believes in each of us enough to believe in us. Do the same for others.
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