How Should We Receive Exaggerated Praise?

Uncategorized 1 Minute

How Should We Receive Exaggerated Praise?

Most of my readers know that I retired at the end of spring semester. My last employment was with Whitworth University, eight plus years at their Spokane campus and over four years with programs in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala and Mexico. Upon retirement, one of my colleagues gathered together “tributes” from dozens of professors and former students and made them into a video. If you are interested in seeing it, it can be viewed at https://youtu.be/k7c_RVSOoxs. You will notice that they “sang my praises” and I danced and sang “If I Were a Rich Man” from Fiddler on the Roof…in Spanish…on top of a table…in Costa Rica.

Many nice things were said, and it brought me to shed some tears. I imagined it to be somewhat similar to hearing the eulogy at your own funeral. How should we respond when we receive overstated praise?  I am vain enough to think that some of what they said was true. I am also realistic enough to know that I have not been as good, as scholarly, as exciting, as honest, as patient, as creative a professor and colleague as I could have been.

What should we take away from that kind of tribute? That people are important. Friendships that last over the years are one of the most beautiful of God’s generous gifts. So, give deeply of yourself to others and graciously receive their love.

Published by lindyscott99

Published

11 thoughts on “How Should We Receive Exaggerated Praise?”

  1. Lindy,

    Grateful to read this.

    Especially this:

    What should we take away from that kind of tribute? That people are important. Friendships that last over the years are one of the most beautiful of God’s generous gifts. So, give deeply of yourself to others and graciously receive their love.

    Grateful. Good word of exhortation for me.

    I will soon finish out 40 years (12/31/20) with Good Works and I too have received many kind and generous words. Many of the letters and notes are sent to me but are written with the community in mind. i like that. I often find it necessary to go “into the closet” to offer this praise back to God and as i do that, I often can discern things. I often pray ‘LORD, help me to hear your voice today”. Sometimes i hear (through the praises of others) “you are my beloved”. Other times, i hear kindness and exaggerated praise that i simply must not let go to my heart (or my head).

    Love is still a verb,

    kw

    >

    Like

    Reply

  3. You’re a good man with a generous heart and soul. You deserved every word of praise you received. Enjoy retirement “mi amigo.”

    Like

    Reply

  4. Lindy, you are an inspiration, and you have been like that since the first day I met you at Ohio University. en agape tou Christou your brother in Christ by His infinite grace. Bradley Webster Jessup

    Like

    Reply

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.