On a Wednesday afternoon, Allison and I ping-pong texts back and forth. After serving her a bit of fun news I’d just received, I’m more than a little surprised at her excited response, complete with caps and exclamation marks. I blushed as her joy jumped through the screen and grabbed me in a bear hug. A few days later, Allison insisted on showing enthusiasm beyond her words and treated me to a lunch complete with champagne and creamy Italian goodness.
Allison celebrated my news through and through, and I was reminded there’s something magical about honoring each other’s accomplishments. In a world that freely flings insults aimed at your heart, it is a gift to have a friend who forgets her own stuff for a while and whispers Bravo! in your ear.
Too often, I’m tempted to remain quiet on the celebratory stuff in my life, afraid I’ll be seen as a glory-seeker or an accomplishment-bragger. And honestly, I’m just not comfortable going on about myself anyway. So unless you ask, I’m not likely to share. But the truth is, our celebrations are gifts from the Giver of All Good Things, and while they may not always be treated to a champagne toast, they deserve their own kind of standing ovation. What’s more, remaining tight-lipped about our own successes robs others of 3 opportunities:
1. The opportunity to love and support you. Sometimes we don’t always know how to support people, but when you share your good news with me, it’s a given that a simple but heartfelt smile and great job! go a long way.
2. The opportunity to be encouraged. Too often I think we assume people will be discouraged by our own success. Of course, this is sometimes true – those prideful green feelings can sneak into the strongest of hearts. But when I know you have received something you’ve been praying for, it encourages me to keep praying, too. It encourages me to hold onto Hope.
3. The opportunity to make God famous. Celebrating successes is an opportunity to show gratitude to the God of heaven and brag on how utterly faithful He is. When we do this, we become beacons of light that point others to God.
Not everyone is a safe person for sharing our successes, and not every success needs sharing. But perhaps I can be the kind of friend and family member who isn’t afraid to share as God leads. And more importantly, may I be the kind of friend who is humble enough to forget my own stuff and whisper – or shout – Bravo! over the accomplishments of others.
On Thursdays ’round here, we share out of the blue stories. Just tell us how God used something right out of the blue to build your faith, give you joy, or encourage your heart in the midst of your day.
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Love this post! Yes, it is so important to bring people into the blessing of our successes and our failures. We need each other don’t we? I’m so thankful for friends who revel with me and for me, when I feel shy or boastful. It is the deepest kind of love when we share vulnerably.
Kristen,
I’ve always been somewhat hesitant to share my successes with others lest I be viewed as being prideful or a braggart. You are so right that our successes and blessings can offer others hope – something that is hard to hold onto these days. We all need to be encouraged and celebrated as well as encouraging and celebrating others. Thanks for a wonderful reminder!
Blessings to you,
Bev 🙂
I’ve been ok with sharing successes with close friends, but I have rarely shared my struggles. And I’ve realized lately, as I’ve opened up more, that I’ve been robbing friends from the opportunity to do for me, to pray for me, to love me. So I’m learning to stop plastering on the smile and “I’m fine!” and instead give real answers. I’ve been blessed to have those friends WANT to lift me up.
Great post today! (And I can’t wait to hear what your good news is!)
Ya Angela, I sometimes swing too far the other way, too. Success or struggle, you bring up a good point: my safe people deserve real answers. Just love this…and YOU!
My birthday is coming up and I tend to just want to ignore the day and bypass all the birthday blessings. I needed this post to help prepare me for that day and for the attention and for really celebrating 40 good years that the Lord has blessed me with. Sigh! Thanks, Kristen and blessings to you! Love, Rachael
This is SO ME. I’m very quiet about myself.
What a great point, Kristen. (And what a great friend you have!) I’m super sensitive (sometimes perhaps overly so) to being seen as bragging or making other people feel bad, so I never know when or how it’s okay to share good news. I love that you’re the kind of person who WANTS to hear her friends’ successes and joys!!
Also…I’m now dying of curiosity about this great news of yours! Maybe your next post should be about why being nosy is bad? 😉