Now, my second angle of believing in someone revolves around the second definition mentioned – accepting that someone has potential to be more than they display. Of course, I would still believe in the telemarketer’s potential to not misuse my bank information and I’ll believe in the babydaddy’s potential to be a good father. This angle of believing in someone is crucial, just as crucial as oxygen is to our breathing and praying is to spiritual being. Where would we be if noone believed in us? Maybe, I wouldn’t be employed, but the employer saw potential in me. Maybe, we wouldn’t be alive, but God – or whoever you pray to – saw fit for us to live another day. Maybe we wouldnt be married or engaged or dating, but our partners saw potential in us (hopefully beyond just the physical ). Believing in someone else’s potential should be automatic. Everyone who has been encouraged should return the favor by encouraging and supporting someone else. Believing in someone else doesn’t require finances or a magical shaking of the universe. Just simply giving someone the benefit of the doubt displays belief. Simply encouraging someone to go against the odds displays belief. I can attest to countless people believing in my potential, and that belief shows its face everyday I awake. Everytime I log in at work, I am reminded that someone believed I was able to get the job done. Each time I teach the kindergartners and 1st graders at children’s church, I am reminded that someone believed I was capable of being a positive influence regardless of my flaws and mistakes. Each time my momma kept my two children while I went to night school, I am reminded that she believed I was worth it and could achieve it. (Trying not to get all emotional). Every time a specific manager asked me what more do I want from life, I am reminded that she saw me doing more than answering phones in customer service. Each time an instructor pushed a due date out for me because he/she understood that I was a single parent of two small kids working full-time, I am reminded that someone believed in me, sympathized, and understood. Every time my fiance encourages me with a word from the Holy Bible or reminds me of God’s promises, I remember that my fiance believes in my potential to have more faith. Each time my son asks me to proofread his writing assignments, I am reminded that he believes I am intelligent enough to do so. I could go on, and these things may seem small to you, but it still shows that someone was believing in me in some way, and it never goes unnoticed. So, when we turn around and believe in someone else, that person or persons notice and remember as well. It doesnt hurt us to tell our prodigal sons or brothers that they can be whatever they want to be and that we’ll support them along the way. It doesnt hurt to tell the young female gang banger that life has more to offer than drugs, guns, and meaningless sex and try to show her more. It doesnt even hurt to offer a homeless guy a Bible or a word of encouragement or a way to get to the Lord’s house. It doesnt hurt to give of your blessings to someone less fortunate. Afterall, God blesses us so that we can bless others. This is the lesson Jesus was teaching when he fed the 5000 with two fish and five loaves of bread. Once Jesus had multiplied the food and fed the multitude, there were 12 baskets left over and Jesus commanded the multitude to take that food back and give to those who were not present. Thus, causing them to share their blessings with others and not keep it to themselves. We have been blessed to have someone believe in us, whether it was a word of encouragement, a supportive hug, or a financial investment. It is our duty as a human being to sow the same seed in someone else.

I am greatly appreciative of everyone in me life who has supported me, encouraged me, and believed in me. When I see individuals who are going through what I’m going through or have been through, I do not hesitate to help in any way possible. Even if I can’t help them directly, I lift them up in prayer, even when I dont know their names, but GOD knows. Everyone has a potential to be more than they display, and they may not even know it. It becomes our jobs to point out that potential and encourage along the way, even if just a word or a head nod in passing.

Above all, I can say that I can always believe in my heavenly Father and his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, my Savior. Talk about encouragement, support, and belief in me! God’s all that to me and more, and even though I can’t see them physically, I know they are near. They are the reason people encourage me and believe in me. God sends those people along. And if I never got another human to believe in me, I know that God believes in me because even while I was yet a sinner, He sent His only begotten Son to die for me so that I may have eternal life.

I agree that it’s “powerful.” I also believe that in order to “trust” and have the “faith” to be “unconditional,” we must allow ourselves to “love.” I write “allow” because many times we think that we are showing love to someone, but we fail to see that that’s all it is . . . “a show.” In order to “allow” ourselves to “love,” we’ve gotta “let go.” Let go of the past mistakes, the “wrong” that has been done to you, the cherished memories that keep us from moving on, the people who we thought would be there forever, the life that we once lived . . . we’ve gotta “let go” and “move on.” When we do that, we’re able to love, then trust, then have faith, and they all automatically become unconditional.

“Faith . . . ”

It’s not only the beliefs that we internalize, but it’s also the symbols that we hold onto to strengthen and guide us. For example, a lot of times I run into people who claim to be “Christian,” and I ask them, “What does that mean?” I usually get the response that “Jesus is my savior.” I further ask, “What does THAT mean?” They then break into “scripture.” I ask again, “What does that mean?” And, we continue this cycle of me asking that same question. Why do I ask it repetitively? Because I want to know what’s coming from their heart, soul, mind, body . . . everything that makes up their being . . . because it’s not until they are able to “allow” their responses and their actions to be a part of their “whole being,” that they are truly practicing “faith.” “Jesus” (in flesh) represents a “symbol” based on their response . . . a symbol our society, particularly the religious sector, has created to control us to think and believe what they want us to . . . It’s not until we determine for ourselves what “Jesus” means to us, is it truly “faith.” “Jesus,” in this case, is “spiritual” (a part of our whole being). Now, don’t “twist” my words to make what you believe the ultimate belief to “sooth yourself.” Think about it. There’s a saying I often hear, “What would Jesus do?” When I first heard it, I thought, there they (“the pseudo-Christians,” people who cite scriptures and base their faith on history and what they’re told without critically thinking for themselves and trusting in “the temple of God” –> our “whole body”) go again. But, when I thought of it from a spiritual sense, I hoped that people would think about the saying to mean, believing that God is in us, what should we automatically do.

Coming together as “ONE voice . . . ”

Wow! We’ve gotta think about what “ONE voice?” We can say that we are doing it right now . . . either through the “one voice” of the government/president or the “one voice” of our religion or the “one voice” of our upbringing . . . I believe in the “one voice” that encompasses all of us and leads us to do what you wrote about . . . show our belief in someone here on earth . . . stand up, even if we’re standing alone . . . “allow” our love, trust and faith to guide us . . . we don’t have to let go of our “spiritual” faith . . . we just have to allow it to “live” within us . . . and with all that it leads us to say and do, it provides us the opportunities and ability to believe in others and in time, they believe in others . . . leading to a chain reaction of love, trust and faith — “ONE voice”

Here are some movies that your blog made me think about . . . they’re movies that most of the time people just watch for entertainment and don’t really think about . . . but I hope someone will and possibly get inspired to “move on”

Yes Man: http://yesisthenewno.warnerbros.com/

Evan Almighty: http://www.evanalmighty.com/

Pay It Forward (a book and movie): http://www.payitforwardfoundation.org/get_involved.html

“Live, Love, Laugh and Learn” . . . Take Care, Jess 🙂

This question along with Etoy’s comments has prompted me to share my story… I don’t trust others, but I trust God to bring the right people into my life at the right time and for Him to remove those who are a hinderance to me.

My pregnancy with my son began as one of the loneliest periods in my life. I had no one- no need for all the details, but I was ALONE! Being that I did yoga pre-pregnancy, I decided to attend a prenatal yoga class. I sat in the back of each class and left out without socializing with anyone. Well, one day after class I had a conversation with the teacher. The next class some of the women began to strike up a conversation with me before I rushed off. Even though they didn’t know me and had their own lives, these women took an interest in me. They encouraged me, took care of me when I was on bedrest, and came to see me when my son was born. They became my closest friends, my support system, and my son was born with an instant social circle! We’ve built life long friendships! Because they believed in me and encouraged me, I feel the need to share that with other new mothers. Single or married, the support is needed and makes a world of difference!

There’s a saying that God will turn your test into a testimony which turns out to be your ministry…

Etoy