I was asked to walk a dog for a friend and so I did. I had walked my own and knew what worked and what didn’t. I tried speaking a command in a firm voice and that proved useless. She acted as if she was deaf. It was only later when I watched one of her young owners talk to her, that I learned what I needed to do. A soft gentle voice was the only way to get her attention and win her little doggy heart. It got me thinking.

In life’s journey, we can come up against people, some nice, others not so much. We may not be able to understand them, have no idea why they do what they do, what they are truly like, even what they might need. The key is to remember that everyone, yes I said everyone, is made in the image of God. That means they have great value. My thinking? Proceed thoughtfully. Who knows if a gentle encouraging word will help to bring about what God has planned for their life, and in the process, change our life too.