affirmation

A friend of mine approached me recently needing to communicate something she was frustrated about in regards to our friendship. It’s a friend I trust, so the words fell graciously and I was able to sort through and discover truth:  at the root of her disappoint was my lack of affirmation. She wasn’t seeking it. But even when we don’t seek or expect affirmation, we may still experience the consequences of not receiving it. These consequences surface as insecurity or resentment or feeling undervalued. The absence of grace-filled words is just as powerful as a sharp tongue intended to hurt. […]