[dropcap2 variation=”coffee”]M[/dropcap2]aggie could no longer walk. Her mind was beginning to deteriorate. Yet she smiled through it all, always managing to keep things positive.
“You’re such a good boy,” she said one day. “You always have been. I’ve known you all your life. You always do such a good job. I’m so proud of you.”
“Maggie, you’re so encouraging,” I responded.
“Honey, what else would I do?” she replied.
Well, Maggie could’ve chosen to whine, grouse, criticize and belittle. She could’ve been angry and bitter. She encouraged instead. This had become natural for Maggie because she had learned to be an encourager.
Encouragement has tremendous power, doesn’t it? A well-timed word, gift, or act of service can make our week. The right touch can alter the course of a day. Some people may seem to be natural encouragers, but such powerful heart-connected words and acts are rarely totally spontaneous.
What I mean is that most encouragement is deliberate. It is a conscious choice on the part of the encourager, designed to lift-up and build-up. If encouragement is deliberate, then it is also a skill that can be practiced. And whatever we practice becomes permanent.
Ironically, I find I’m most encouraged when I’m focused on encouraging others. I’ve discovered I can build others up even when my life is messy and I’m in the midst of personal pain and difficulty. As I choose to get out of my own head and affirm others, somehow my courage to tackle life grows. Encouraging others is part of being a victorious overcomer.
Read it out loud: As I choose to become an encourager, my courage will grow.
Go forth and practice encouraging. You can do it. And it’ll be so worth it.
Go get ‘em, tiger!
