I’ve been blessed with so many supportive people throughout my life.
But there is one friend who came into my life as an adult who changed something for me.
She saw something in me long before I could see it in myself.
The interesting thing is that I’m still not completely sure I see what she sees.
Yet for years she has remained steady in her belief. Not with endless compliments or constant encouragement. She simply believed I was capable of more than I realized.
Over time, I found myself borrowing that confidence.
At first, I trusted her belief more than my own.
Then little by little, I started taking steps that I might not have taken otherwise.
As a parent, I think about this often. Every day, whether I realize it or not, my children are borrowing confidence from me. They are watching how I respond to challenges, how I speak about myself, what I encourage in them, and what I believe they are capable of becoming.
It’s easy to see this dynamic in children.
We understand that our words matter. We understand that our belief in them helps shape their belief in themselves.
What has surprised me is realizing that adults aren’t all that different.
We still need people who see something in us.
We still need people who remind us of what is possible.
We still need people who believe in us during seasons when our own confidence feels a little shaky.
Looking back, I think that’s one of the greatest gifts we can give another person.
Seeing something real in someone and caring enough to tell them.
The older I get, the more I realize how much influence we have over one another.
A few sincere words can change the direction of a day.
Consistent belief can change the direction of a life.
This friend changed my world.
Not because she gave me opportunities or solved my problems.
She changed my world because she helped me see possibilities that I couldn’t yet see for myself.
And because of that, I pay closer attention now.
Who needs encouragement?
Who needs someone to believe in them?
Who needs a little borrowed confidence until they find their own?