The Best Investment We Can Make

The box looked intriguing.  I discovered it in the back of my office closet.  It had gone through our last three moves without being unpacked. I had written “Important—but not Urgent” on the top. I wondered what was so important, since it was packed over 30 years ago.

My curiosity got the best of me as I opened the mystery box. To my surprise, it was filled with programs and message notes from the countless women’s conferences and retreats I had attended as a young woman in my twenties. Digging deeper, I found books that had been written by some of my favorite female speakers—some of those women who, over time, had become close friends in ministry.  

It didn’t take long to realize why the box was important to me.  Those women were leaders who mentored me—either in person or by example. They made me feel seen, known, and those who became friends, made me feel loved. They shared their wisdom and advice as they lavished me with encouragement.  As I sat surrounded by these tangible reminders of their investment in me, I realized these women had taught me what Paul meant when he wrote, “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13). 

These women modeled what it means to invest in loving and encouraging people well. 

Five Lessons from Women Who Invested in Me

1. See people as God sees them.

Before we can love people well, we need to see them rightly. C.S. Lewis wrote, “There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal… it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit.” Every person you encounter—the difficult coworker, the struggling neighbor, the distant family member—is an eternal soul bearing God’s image. When you see people through heaven’s lens, everything changes.

2. Listen more than you speak.

James 1:19 reminds us to be “quick to listen, slow to speak.” Most people aren’t looking for our advice; they’re longing to be heard. My mentors taught me to: Put down my phone. Make eye contact. Ask follow-up questions. Create space where others feel safe to be honest. Our undivided attention is one of the most valuable gifts you can give in a distracted world.

3. Show up in the mundane moments.

Love isn’t just for crisis moments—it’s proven in the ordinary. It’s the text message checking in. The meal delivered without being asked. The willingness to help move furniture or watch someone’s kids. Mother Teresa said, “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” Our legacy won’t be built in spectacular gestures but in faithful presence during life’s everyday moments.

4. Extend grace lavishly.

We’ve been forgiven an unpayable debt. Now it’s time to forgive others freely. Ephesians 4:32 reminds us: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Choose to believe the best. Release grudges quickly. Refuse to keep score. Grace doesn’t ignore wrongdoing, but it chooses relationship over being right. The grace we extend today will reverberate long after we’re gone.

5. Invest in people’s growth.

Loving people well means wanting God’s best for them, not just what’s comfortable for us. Sometimes love speaks hard truth. Sometimes it sets boundaries. Sometimes it challenges others to become who God created them to be. Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Your legacy includes the people you encouraged, equipped, and empowered to fulfill their calling.

Start Building Your Legacy Today

Here’s an important truth.  We don’t need wealth, status, or influence to love people well. We just need availability, intentionality, and a heart willing to reflect Christ’s love to a hurting world.

Try one of these action steps this week:

• Identify your “one.” Ask God to bring one person to mind who needs to experience tangible love this week. Then act—send encouragement, offer practical help, or simply spend time together without distraction.

• Practice the 10-5 rule. When you’re within 10 feet of someone, make eye contact and smile. Within 5 feet, offer a greeting. This simple practice trains you to notice and honor the people around you rather than rushing past them.

Your life is your message. Make sure it’s written in love—because that’s the only language that translates into eternity.

Question: If you opened your own “mystery box of memories,” who would you find there?  Who are the mentors or influencers whose wisdom you still carry with you today, and what’s one lesson they taught you that changed how you treat others?

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