Compliments, when sincere and gracious, are not small or superficial.
Scripture reminds us that words have the power to heal, to strengthen weary hearts and to affirm dignity where it has been worn down. In my work with Hope Lebedyn in Ukraine, I have witnessed how deeply words matter.
This is especially true for those who have experienced loss, displacement and trauma, as we now reach the sad milestone of four years of conflict and war.
Svetlana is a respected local lawyer and, together with her husband, the owner of the town’s bakery. The Hope Lebedyn centre had been distributing up to 20,000 loaves of bread each year to support those in need. While the intention was to serve the community, the impact on Svetlana’s business was becoming increasingly noticeable.
One Sunday, determined to address the situation, Svetlana decided to attend a church service with the intention of speaking firmly to the pastors about her concerns. She arrived ready to challenge, to confront and to defend what she had worked hard to build.
Yet during the service, something changed. Instead of leaving with the words she had prepared, Svetlana felt called to repentance and to surrender her life to Jesus.
After the service, she shared her testimony openly with those present. The words of complaint she had planned were transformed into words of compliment. She spoke instead of admiration for the way the church and the Hope Lebedyn team showed love to their neighbours through practical care.
From that transformed heart flowed unexpected generosity. Svetlana offered to supply flour and yeast for the next three months to support the bread-baking efforts of Hope Lebedyn. What began as a moment of tension became the beginning of a faithful and ongoing partnership, one that has continued to bless many.
Many of the women we walk alongside carry stories of resilience that often go unnoticed. Offering a genuine compliment is not about flattery. Rather, it’s about recognising the image of God in one another, even when circumstances have tried to erase it.
A thoughtful compliment can be an echo of God’s own voice, reminding someone that they are seen, valued and loved.
Svetlana’s story reminds us that gracious words can open the door to grace-filled action. Complimenting what is good, faithful and loving in others allows God to soften hearts, including our own.
Peter Martin
Executive Director, Hope Lebedyn
Reflect
‘Gracious words are a honeycomb,
sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.’
Proverbs 16:24
Pray
- Pray that your words today would be kind, gentle and full of grace.
- Ask God to help you notice people who need encouragement and to give you the right words to say.
- Thank Him for the way kind words can bring healing and joy to others.
Act
A generosity challenge for you to complete today:
| Give three unexpected compliments today – to a colleague, a stranger or someone close to you. Never underestimate the power of a few kind words. |
About Hope Lebedyn
Hope Lebedyn shares the hope of the Gospel through practical care and evangelistic ministry across the Sumy region of Ukraine. The team serves children, young people and families through camps, clubs, creative outreach, Bible studies, leadership training, as well as a bakery and bread ministry that distributes up to 20,000 loaves each year, offering both nourishment and dignity to those in need.
Amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, the team continues to respond to urgent needs by supporting displaced families and delivering aid across the region, while faithfully sustaining their ministry wherever possible. Alongside meeting immediate needs, Hope Lebedyn remains committed to long-term hope, working towards restoring the Bible college and planting 12 churches by 2028.
