That’s Just The Way We Like It

That’s Just the Way We Like It

Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.

My friend Carol is relentlessly optimistic. I mean that in the very best of ways, because when you have a job as demanding as Carol’s, optimism in the face of adversity is necessary. Carol is the director of a women’s ministry that puts on events throughout the year that host thousands of people. She has a large advisory group and hundreds of volunteers that need oversight, and with so many personalities and moving parts, it’s inevitable that things will sometimes go awry.

Yet her standard phrase is, “That’s just the way we like it.” Funds not fully raised yet? That’s just the way we like it. An item the team expected to hand out to hundreds at the conference stuck somewhere in the morass of customs? That’s just the way we like it. Disgruntled vendor? That’s just the way we like it.

Of course those situations aren’t ideal, and no one likes having troubles arise. But Carol’s phrase is a reminder that though we may face challenges, as Christians, we choose to take the optimistic view. Nothing is impossible with our Jesus—no hurdle, no obstacle, no impediment—nothing. He is in control.

As friends, how can we encourage each other with our words? Despite the scads of people and situations Carol is required to oversee, she has the unique ability to make each person feel seen and heard. She’s an encourager. And she always says thank you, no matter how small of a role a person plays. The words she says are a reminder to me that I, too, need to choose optimism in the face of adversity. Our words have power, and we can use them for harm or for good. Carol has chosen to speak words that bring life. Her own optimism, expressed aloud, fuels the rest of her team to accept the obstacles and find ways to overcome them together. And—truthfully—that’s just the way we like it.

— Kristin

— Today’s Act of Friendship —

Find a way to verbally encourage a friend while choosing to view a situation with optimism.