07/17/2026
A perspective to ponder…
I had a thought recently about the Scripture that tells us to value others above ourselves.
And the more I thought about it, the more I realized that this isn’t necessarily about walking around thinking we’re better or more important than other people. Most of us probably aren’t consciously thinking that way at all.
Maybe it’s more about being intentional in how we see the people God places around us.
I’ve had the opportunity to lead people for many years—in the military, in the medical field, and now in the dog training industry, where I also have the opportunity to teach and mentor other trainers.
And something I’ve been thinking about is how easy it can be, especially when you’re in a leadership or mentoring role, to naturally see a relationship through the perspective of what you have to offer.
What can I teach them?
How can I help them?
What can I pour into them?
There’s nothing wrong with any of that. That’s part of leadership.
But what if we’re missing something?
Philippians 2:3 tells us, “In humility value others above yourselves.”
Maybe part of living that out is intentionally looking for the value God has placed in the person standing in front of us.
Not because we previously thought we were better than them.
But because if we’re not intentional about seeing people, we can easily miss what God wants to show us through them.
The person I’m mentoring may have something to teach me.
The person I’m leading may see something I don’t see.
The customer who walks through our door may have an impact on my life that I never expected.
And someone with less experience in one area may carry wisdom, perspective, character, or a gift that I need in another.
We spend a lot of time asking God to use us to be a blessing to others. And that’s a good prayer.
But lately I’ve been thinking that maybe we should also be asking:
“God, help me recognize the people You’ve placed around me. Help me see their value. Help me not become so focused on what I can give that I miss what You may be trying to give me through them.”
Proverbs tells us that iron sharpens iron.
That means the relationship isn’t always one-directional.
Leadership doesn’t mean we stop learning.
Teaching doesn’t mean we stop being teachable.
And being used by God to bless someone doesn’t mean God isn’t using that same person to bless us.
Maybe the real challenge is simply to become more intentional about seeing people.
To slow down enough to recognize what God has placed in them.
To value their perspective.
To listen.
And to remain open to the possibility that the person standing in front of us may be carrying a blessing, a lesson, or a perspective that God specifically intended for us.
Sometimes the blessing isn’t something we need to go looking for.
Sometimes it’s already standing right in front of us.
We just have to be intentional enough to see it.
