EncourageYou!

In listening to the audiobooks version of Stephen Covey's The 8th Habit, he gave a practically useful definition of the word COMPLIMENTARY. To paraphrase, the idea of a complimentary relationship is where one's strenghts and giftedness have a voice and are effective/productive, but one's weakesses are made irrelevant because of the strenghts and giftedness of another.

By the way, the 8th Habit is to find your voice and inspire others to find theirs. More on that some other time perhaps.

I think about strengts, talents, spiritual gifts, weaknesses, and such a lot while I think about my own talents and abilities, my wife's talents and abilities, and my childrens', especially in the context of raising, training, and educating them. To understand complimentary relationships and that it is OK to have weaknesses because we have others who help us in our weaknesses.

Surely, Darling Bride helps me in my weaknesses. It is shown in day to day living, and shown in Biblical instruction on how husbands and wives compliment each other:

• Wives, submit to your husbands... (Ephesians 5:22 and following)
• Husbands, love your wives...(Ephesians 5:25 and following)

We're given different instructions because each of us has different strengths and weaknesses. Husbands' strengths, when properly used, can lead a family forward. Wives' strenghts, when properly used, can eliminate Husbands' many weaknesses.

Married, single, each of us has a network of friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, and such that help us.

Finally, there is one who can compensate for all of our weaknesses, and we read about him in Hebrews 4:14-16 -

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

May you find someone to compliment today.
Best,
Jeff