I know it can be hard. There’s so much familiarity that you have a fixed image in your mind of who they are. There were so many times that you’ve seen them do ordinary things that it can be hard to recognize when they do something extraordinary. When you’ve watched someone grow up it can be easy to miss the man or woman they’ve become. Stories of their great accomplishments in some distant city may just sound like irrelevant and exaggerated tales.
Define “prophet” however you want. For my money you can almost insert anyone into that slot. Everyone has something to communicate about who God is, or what he is up to, or what he might have to say today. Whether they are conscious of it or not. We are all image bearers.
Or just forget the word “prophet” if that throws you or if you feel like nitpicking the definition. The truth is that everyone is easily overlooked by those who’ve known them for years on end.
Whoever someone was ten, or twenty, or thirty years ago is not who they are today. Expect them to change. Watch for signs of how they have grown and matured and transformed themselves.
Whatever you see that’s great in someone, honor it. Whatever you hear that’s great about someone, honor it. Whatever it is that someone accomplishes for good in this world, honor it.
An unexpected encouragement is a pleasant surprise.
