Because People Matter

All people matter. All people are important. If you think you are not important or if you think someone else is not important, please think again. People matter.

Due to recent horrific events I felt I could not stay silent.

I’m tired of people hating people. And I’m tired of people hating people who hate people. And I’m tired of people hating people who hate people who hate people.

Maybe you are too. If you’re ready to change the world, then change your heart. Love is what will change the world.

“For God so loved the world…” Notice it does not say God loved only the goody-goodies or the God-seekers. Nor does it say God loved the world except these people and these people. God loved and still loves everyone. God sees every life as precious. He made each and every person. He created them to the smallest detail. How could He not mourn the loss of His creation that He deemed “very good.”  In Ezekiel 18 verses 23 and 32 God makes it clear He does not rejoice over anyone’s death, and then in Ezekiel 33:11 it says God does not delight in the death of even the wicked. If God holds every life precious so should we.
(*And yes we should view the lives of even the “wicked” precious. After all, we are all in that category! Rom 3:10-12*)

Arrogance is what causes people to think they are better than other people, more important than other people. It is what causes people to think they can judge others and condemn them. It is what makes someone think they have the right to look down on others, to exclude others, to distance others. Arrogance can lead to people hating others who are different or do not meet certain qualities. It is arrogance that can cause people to think their needs are more important than anyone else’s and should be met first, should be met regardless of the cost to others. It is arrogance that leads to the belief that someone has the right to take another’s life.

Arrogance can have dangerous and deadly consequences, and yet it is often ignored or misguidedly encouraged as a form of confidence.

The opposite of arrogance is not insecurity (confidence is the opposite of insecurity), neither is the opposite shame (honor is the opposite of shame). The opposite of arrogance is humility.

Humility is what causes people to recognize their faults and apologize. Humility is what causes people to forgive people even when they are not sorry. Humility allows someone to put others’ needs first.

Too often it is easy to tear others apart and look at their faults while ignoring our own. Humility is acknowledging our own faults and letting others hold us accountable.

Now for anyone ready and willing to work on putting other people first, there are many people who want to be loved. Here are some simple ways to love others. (Try making your own list and challenge yourself to complete it : ) I choose to work on 1, 6, 10 and 14.
*write a note of encouragement to someone
*take someone out for coffee or lunch and focus on him/her
*remember people’s birthdays (even if you’re not close) and send them a sincere message
*offer to cook dinner for a family and bring it their home
*smile at people you interact with today and take time to ask how their day is going and why it is good/bad
*find a cause or organization you would like to support and get involved
*offer to run an errand or help clean something
*visit someone in the hospital or nursing home
*take food to a food pantry
*be willing to stop and help if you see someone having a hard time
*volunteer at a homeless shelter
*start a blanket drive for the homeless
*visit or volunteer at a youth center or children’s home
*speak up and defend those who are oppressed (stay humble and kind while being honest)
*shop stores that support a cause (I personally like sevenly and puravida)