The Real McCoy

I have a church friend named Ina. Until recently I did not have a natural opportunity to get to know her very well. But we've been serving on a committee together and hence seen each other quite a bit lately.

In a meeting one evening earlier this week I had to tell her. She's the real McCoy. The genuine article. A bonafide, authentic Southern Lady. In every situation she has responded - without fail- as a class act. So I had to tell her so - and publicly with the rest of the committee present.

Sometimes I tend to hold back on expressing love or admiration. I don't want to be misconstrued or misunderstood. It can be easier to tell others about what we think or how we feel about someone that it is to tell the person him or herself. But I think it's important to say it to the person who deserves the compliment.

"Better is open rebuke than hidden love." Proverbs 27:5 encourages us to express our love and appreciation of people we know. God delights in us, and takes great pains to tell us so - and remind us when we forget. One thing I want to do more in 2008 is to participate with Him in open, honest delight in the wonderful people that He has put in my life.