Unexpected

I got a very unexpected complement tonight from a very unexpected source at a point in time when I was feeling like I just had nothing to offer.

I was told that I had a gentle and quiet spirit. This is ironic because it comes from one of the people who can get on my nerves the quickest and has elicited several cutting remarks from me. This person is also incredibly hard on women. His standards and beliefs about what women should be is higher than I have heard from anyone else. So needless to say I was surprised at the comment.

I was feeling pretty all around terrible tonight. Out with the normal crew and feeling like I just wanted to sink into the seat I was sitting in. I knew that I was evoking concern in the people I was with, but I just couldn't pull myself out of the funk.

That's when this person said, "This is the first time I have ever seen you quiet quiet." I was almost tempted to ask what that meant, but settled for an apology. He went on to say, "Which is saying a lot because you are naturally a quiet person." I am rarely quiet in my mind around this person. Again, we do a lot of banter back and forth. He went on to say, "You have a gentle and quiet spirit and that is a very rare find in a woman now a days."

I was overcome with gratitude for the complement and almost lost my composure as my eyes welled up. You see, I know women who have a gentle and quiet spirit. I have always admired them greatly and desired that trait as well. However, I just didn't believe that was a part of who I was. I have too sharp of a tongue and too often speak my mind.

It is a trait that I have tried to work towards, but had seen no progress, so I was delighted to hear that God had also been working in me in that way.

I still feel terrible. I have a lot on my mind and am working through a lot of stuff as mentioned in my last long post, but I am delighted by a brother in Christ noticing a positive feminine trait in me.