I am TERRIBLE at accepting compliments. Really, really terrible.
I think the reason for my terribleness is that I don’t ever think I ever achieve anything good.
Never.
I’m trying to learn to be gracious in accepting compliments but it’s a slow process.
Someone once told me that the definition of mercy is not getting what you deserve and the definition of grace is getting what you DON’T deserve.
So being gracious in accepting a compliment surely means to humbly accept the praise even though you don’t deserve it.
That’s pretty tough for me and I’m wrestling with it hard!
It occurs to me though that however difficult it is for me to accept something as small as a compliment I think I don’t deserve, how much harder is it for God to give us grace, to give us what we don’t deserve?
I’m sure that some people will argue that nothing is too difficult for God and I know that’s true, but he is a real person, someone with feelings, someone who we hurt again and again with out rejection of him and our sin.
I think those things hurt him more than we can ever know yet he still finds it within himself to extend grace and mercy to us.
It truly is, Amazing Grace.
This post is part of Bridget Chumbley’s Blog Carnival. Visit her site to see all the other entries.
Our culture teaches us to be independent, to "do it ourselves." We have trouble with accepting compliments (we all get at least vaguely uncomfortable) and accepting help, which we often confuse with "weakness." Yet in that hour we first believed, we accepted both our own weakness and the ultimate compliment — that we mattered enough to be saved. Good post, Peter.
Thank you, Glynn
I like what Glynn said. And I love this version of Amazing Grace…haven't heard them sing this one. It's beautiful.
I first heard this version a year or so ago and love their rendition.
I wish they would put just a little more emotion into it though.
Love this version of "Amazing Grace"–my all time favorite hymn.
It's way up there amongst my all time favorites too!
I know what you mean. It seems that the graciousness of their compliment calls for something other than "thank you", yet anything more or less is ungracious. Ever notice that both "compliment" and "complicated" begin with "compli"?
compli… interesting 🙂
You're cool, Helen
So being gracious in accepting a compliment surely means to humbly accept the praise even though you don’t deserve it.
Dude, awesome! I don't think I can expound on that. Amen.
Thanks, Michael
You are really bad at accepting compliments, but that doesn't mean I'm ever going to stop giving them to you. Everything I've ever asked you to do for me is done with excellence and care. I have a fairly short list of people I know I can always depend on. You are definitely high on that list, Peter. You are an awesome person. I love your heart, and your heart for people.
Thanks, Katdish. I appreciate your kind words
Compliments are hard for me too, but I just think that God is the one who gave the ability so I can turn that praise back to Him. It's the circle of grace… Thanks Peter.
I'm glad I'm not the only one! 🙂
Thanks, JasonS
Love this song. Grace can teach our hearts many things, even how to accept compliments.
I sure hope it can! 🙂
Think of compliments as the expression of God's voice through others for what you do. Grace enough.
Interesting way of thinking of it.
Thanks, Maureen
That was beautiful… the post and the video. 🙂
Awww, Thanks, Duane.
I always worry about pride and "big hotheadedness" when it comes to me receiving compliments.
I think a key in your post is our own humility as we realize how we are covered by God's grace in spite of our deservedness (is that even a word?).
My spell checker told me that terribleness is a word, so I'm sure deservedness is too 🙂
i agree, God is amazing and Love and so good to give us Grace.
I feel the same way about receiving compliments, Peter. I wish I could just say simply, "Thank You." But it's so hard sometimes, because like you said, I'm not sure I deserve the compliments when I'm so full of imperfections. It takes practice, I think. I'm so thankful for the grace that God extends me!
I can relate to these feelings, Peter. I have never been good about accepting compliments, but I am working on it. Thanks for speaking from the heart.
It is all right to be embarrassed by compliments; most givers will understand. One who is embarrassed by compliments has knows of his or her own imperfections, and that is good.
But you definitely want to get past embarrassment. Sincere compliments are often meant to encourage you. Whether your performance is really as good as they seem to be saying or not, they want you to continue. That is God talking!
Also, if someone is truly awestruck at something you did, it is respectful of their opinion if you can get over yourself enough to acknowledge it. Say "Thanks," and remember it is all God's doing.
So being gracious in accepting a compliment surely means to humbly accept the praise even though you don’t deserve it.
Peter, there's a flaw in this impeccable logic somewhere … I think … 😀
If you find it, please let me know 'cos I'd hate to be barking up the wrong tree 🙂
So thankful that God's grace surrounds me every day.
Accepting God's grace when I've become less than perfect, more than once over the same area, has been a really tough one for me. I've become a little bit better at that over the years, but it's still about the toughest spiritual growth I've had. I don't have too much trouble allowing grace for others, but for myself? When I should've/could've made the right choice? Not so easy. Thanks for sharing.