"Silver Lining"

Our mothers would say, “If you can’t say anything good, don’t say anything at all.”  We’ve all heard it.  If we all followed it, it would be a much nicer world or a much quieter one.  It is quite the challenge.  We have all faced the question, “What do you think about this?” If you pause, you might as well have said, “I don’t like it.”  If you were to tell the truth you would have to say, “I don’t like it.”  Many a man has been tangled in the trap of, “Do you think she is prettier than me?” There is a young man on the bus that is the king of encouragement and compliments.  He will often sit on the front seat and talk to the other riders as they board the bus.  He especially likes telling the young girls how pretty they look.  One very rainy morning a young lady stepped onto the bus soaked.  He looked at her and said, “You’re all wet, but you still look beautiful.” His skills were put to the test when a young man on the bus, who was at odds with someone else, was receiving ridicule from those around him.  As with many discussions with students the comments were focused on his appearance.  Before I had a chance to step in and put a stop to the bombardment of comments the King of Compliments came to his aid.  He said, “Wait,” and there was a stop in comments from others.  “He is handsome…………………for someone in his family.”  Men maybe we could modify this approach.  “Yes dear, you are more beautiful than any other woman, standing directly in front of me at this moment.”