Don’t Be Afraid of Losing People

I love this quote by one of my Facebook friends Judith Oloya, who lives in Juba, Sudan, she says, “Don’t’ be afraid of losing people, be afraid of losing yourself by trying to please everyone around you!”

It’s a powerful statement. I don’t know anyone who wants to be disliked or hated. We all want to be admired and liked by those around us. But at what cost?

I had a coach in high school who was our Fellowship of Christian Athletes sponsor. I remember one night after a meeting as we were leaving coach, Eddie Staub pulled me aside and, in his quiet and gentle way, said, “Sam, you are fearfully and wonderfully made by God. You are his unique creation with a special purpose, so please stop trying to be everything others are wanting you to be and just be you?”

I didn’t fully grasp what coach Staub was saying. But as the years have passed, his words of admonition have empowered me to courageously be my authentic self!

So, as my Facebook friend from Sudan, Judith Oloya warns, “Don’t be afraid of losing people, be afraid of losing yourself by trying to please everyone around you!” And, as coach Staub went on to say, “Not everybody is going to like you, so what, God loves you, and that is more than enough to have joy!

Be encouraged today to just be you! God would like that I think, don’t you?