Encouragement for Good People

"…a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and began asking Him, 'Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?' And Jesus said to him, 'Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone." Mark 10: 17-18 (NASB)


My dad cupped my face in his hands as he kissed me good-bye. He and Mom were leaving our house after a month-long visit. "I'm proud of you," he smiled.

"How could you be proud of me? I don't have a job," I thought instantly in a rare moment of self-pity. But aloud, I just asked, "Why?"

"Because you're a good person," Dad grinned, as big as if he'd just found a bar of chocolate in his pocket.

I wasn't quick enough to respond like Jesus, so I smiled and waved as they drove off, hoping they didn't see the tears trickling down my face.

Most of us are so self-critical, that we never think of ourselves as good. We never measure up. Maybe it's that perfect yardstick of Jesus or maybe our society that showcases someone smarter, prettier, stronger or braver. But because my dad's words made me feel special, I tried their effect on a couple of others. I told my friend Ellen, "You're a good person."

She paused as if she'd never heard those words either, and then said, "Well, yes, I just want to be kind to everyone."

I told my husband he was a good person, and he replied, "I never thought of myself that way."

There are so many bad, evil people in this world. Let's celebrate the fact that we're trying our best to do our best. No, we're not as good as The Father, but His grace makes us better--and that's good news.