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Jesus Validated People Others Overlooked

During conversation time with my students in my Family Literacy classes, they are all moms, I incorporate the week’s vocabulary words into the questions we ask each other. Last week one of the words was remember because I was explaining to them about holidays like Martin Luther King Day. I explained it is a day…

jesusluvsall
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During conversation time with my students in my Family Literacy classes, they are all moms, I incorporate the week’s vocabulary words into the questions we ask each other. Last week one of the words was remember because I was explaining to them about holidays like Martin Luther King Day. I explained it is a day we remember him and what he worked for because he was a very important person in the history of our country.

One of the questions was, “what do you remember about the first time you met the teacher?” I strive to have a class culture of it is okay to say how one feels. One of the students answered, “I wondered where is Kolade.” Kolade was their teacher. He is a kind gentle older man originally from Nigeria. He was my assistant for one year and my friend. He had a stroke and is not doing well now.

Photo by ATC Comm Photo on Pexels.com

When she shared that she wondered where he was, my response was, “I understand. He helped you a lot and is so nice. He is my friend. I am sad about it too.” By responding that way, it validated her feelings and her sense of personhood. If I had responded any other way, it could have left her feeling less than. It is my hope that the moms always feel they can be honest.

Jesus validated people he encountered. He saw people others overlooked. He treated people with a dignity others would not. One such case for me is one of the healings Jesus did in Mark chapter 10. A blind man called out. “Son of David have mercy on me. Others rebuked him telling him to be quiet. But Jesus told them to bring the man to him. Jesus took note of him and asked:

“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.

Jesus healed the man others wanted to shun as not being important. Jesus took note of him. Jesus treated the man with dignity when others would not.

We seem to be in short supply of people validating others in our time. So my question for my readers is what is an encounter Jesus had with someone that is meaningful to you as an example of Jesus validating the person?

Thank you for reading. God Bless.

14 responses to “Jesus Validated People Others Overlooked”

  1. meganinlincoln Avatar
    meganinlincoln

    I think about Jesus with Mary Magdalene

    Reply
    1. jesusluvsall Avatar
      jesusluvsall

      great example

      Reply
  2. davidsdailydose Avatar
    davidsdailydose

    Walking through an airport terminal, my wife and I encountered an older man who seemed confused about where to go. He stood off to one side, staring at his boarding pass. I approached and said, “Can we help you sir?” We where then able to show him the monitor that lists departures. He found his flight, just a few gates away, and we walked down with him—just to make sure. The man seemed relieved that he was now in the right place. My wife and I feel like God put us in just the right place and time to help a fellow traveler. What’s interesting is, at times, we’d felt the same way on our own trip.

    Reply
    1. jesusluvsall Avatar
      jesusluvsall

      What a wonderful encounter and opportunity to show kindness!!!

      Reply
  3. Manu Avatar
    Manu

    I think of the Samaritan woman at the well.

    Reply
    1. jesusluvsall Avatar
      jesusluvsall

      It is a wonderful example. I will be writing about it in my series about John in a few weeks.

      Reply
  4. Timothy R. Berman Avatar
    Timothy R. Berman

    One of the most significant encounters I had occurred years ago when I had attended an Assemblies of God Church. I was not only an active member there – I also was working as the custodian. One night, I had received a call from my (now deceased) father that was rather upsetting. I don’t even remember the conversation. A couple of the men that were there saw how upset I was and asked me. I answered and gave a brief reply about how upsetting it was talking with my father. One of them appeared to smile and say, “I do not envy you at all.” I was so distraught that I went outside and allowed myself to cry.

    Moments later there was someone coming up and asking me, “are you okay,” I related how upset I was and that when someone asked, they simply said that they did not envy me. This young man said, “I was driving by, and the Holy Spirit said I needed to stop, and I did not even know why.” We sat there and talked. All he did was listen and then he empathized with me. He prayed with me, and it brought such a sweet comfort to my heart and soul.

    Such encounters are sadly rare and few between in our relationships with one another that we forget to be ministers of Christ. It is so easy to quickly dismiss someone with shallow platitudes of superficial encouragements.

    Thank you for this post and the reminder that we need to see people and minister to people as Christ sees and ministers to them. Validate their need. Validate their sorrow. Validate their frustration and disappointments. Not to pass over them – even with simple “words of encouragement” of go and God will prevail – that does nothing to bring comfort to them.

    Reply
    1. jesusluvsall Avatar
      jesusluvsall

      God let you know here is with you that day

      Reply
  5. Crissy Avatar
    Crissy

    The little children in Mark 10.

    Reply
    1. jesusluvsall Avatar
      jesusluvsall

      Yes!!! Jesus blessing children is something we need to follow

      Reply
  6. Jesus Validated People Others Overlooked — Jesusluvsall’s Blog – QuietMomentsWithGod Avatar
    Jesus Validated People Others Overlooked — Jesusluvsall’s Blog – QuietMomentsWithGod

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  7. Deborah Agustin Avatar
    Deborah Agustin

    Amen. I am always amazed at how Jesus treat the lowly, the poor, and even sinners. He did not reject them because they were unclean but He accepted them and validated their feelings by listening to what they say and what they need. 🙏🏻❤️

    Reply
    1. jesusluvsall Avatar
      jesusluvsall

      It is comforting for me to remember because I am lowly too

      Reply
      1. Deborah Agustin Avatar
        Deborah Agustin

        Yes, we have great comfort from His Word..

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