Signs of Significance

Audio By Carbonatix

Digital billboards and old-fashioned billboards dominate most major highways and thoroughfares. Road signs are also all over the place. These signs and billboards work to tell us where to go, what to eat, what to do, and even how to think. I wonder sometimes if we’d know what to do without signs giving us so much guidance. I know signs are critical for driving anywhere. But I’m not so sure some of the other signs are always helpful. Like the one I passed by one day while traveling. It was on the lawn of a church and was intended to be an encouragement, but fell a bit short of that goal. It did, however, make me laugh. It read, “Don’t Let Worries Kill You, Let the Church Help.”  

Your life is actually a sign for others because people watch you every day. If you think about it, you’re a constant billboard to your family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors. Every action and expression you make in their presence says a little bit about who you are and what you value.

Think about how the word significance begins with S-I-G-N. I think it’s a sign that we need to understand how our life can be significant in a positive or negative way to other people. Look at the way you live your life right now and evaluate what kind of an impact you are making.  

Take, for example, the couple raising two teenagers. They have spoken to them about the dangers of drinking, yet this couple continually entertains company in their home where a lot of cocktails are consumed. Of course, it’s legal for adults to drink. But the way you do it and how it all turns out at the end of the night can be a mixed message to teens. This couples’ sign is sobering: We tell you to do one thing, but we do another.  

Or think of a father to a couple of young girls who thinks nothing of berating their mother in front of them. He might not be physically abusive, but a constant barrage of unflattering comments about her appearance or mannerisms can certainly emotionally damage his wife. This man may camouflage these comments in humor, but his sign is crystal clear: Love is based on outward physical appearance, not inner beauty. This message can be devastating to girls already fighting a losing battle of images from magazines and celebrities.

Consider the woman who encourages her children daily with compliments, physical affection, and words of love, yet doesn’t find the energy to give her husband the same amount of attention. Her sign is veiled through adoration for her children: The kids are more important. 

It’s critical to realize that your actions, words, and even those times you don’t react are all visible signs to the people in your life, especially your family. As you go about your day, make sure you carry positive signs that significantly impact others and help you win at home.