Marc Estes

It has been said that people need, “more strokes than pokes.” In a society that is filled with pressure, rage, and conflict, the antidote to soothe just might be encouragement. We all have experienced it and most long for it. Encouragement from someone you love or respect releases a sense of fulfillment that cannot be duplicated in any other way. We may not live by bread alone, but we all need buttering up once in a while. Mark Twain said, “I can live for two months on one encouraging word.”

We all the ability to give encouragement to those around us. Our tendency might be to point out the one thing we see that is wrong, while missing the opportunity to point out the ten things that are right. I don’t know what this is in all of us that leans toward criticism, judgmental-ism and hypocrisy, but it must have something to do with our sin nature. The only hope for all of us to recognize that we are all sinners and we all fall short of God’s standard. If it weren’t for His grace, none of us would be able to live another day. So why not look for ways to lift up and encourage those around you. This doesn’t mean that we live blindly to the truth or ignore wrong behaviors, but that we strive to be a modern day Barnabas; an encourager to all those within our reach.

Here is a great story to motivate you today to look beyond the circumstances and seize the moment to lift up those around you:

Miss Thompson taught Teddy Stallard in the fourth grade. He was a slow, unkempt student, a loner shunned by his classmates. The previous year his mother died, and what little motivation for school he may have once had was now gone. Miss Thompson didn’t particularly care for Teddy either, but at Christmas time he brought her a small present. Her desk was covered with well-wrapped presents from the other children, but Teddy’s came in a brown sack. When she opened it there was a gaudy rhinestone bracelet with half the stones missing and a bottle of cheap perfume. The children began to snicker but Miss Thompson saw the importance of the moment. She quickly splashed on some perfume and put on the bracelet, pretending Teddy had given her something special. At the end of the day Teddy worked up enough courage to softly say, “Miss Thompson, you smell just like my mother . . . and her bracelet looks real pretty on you too. I’m glad you like my presents.” After Teddy left, Miss Thompson got down on her knees and prayed for God’s forgiveness. She prayed for God to use her as she sought to not only teach these children but to love them as well. She became a new teacher. She lovingly helped students like Teddy and by the end of the year he had caught up with most of the students. Miss Thompson didn’t hear from Teddy for a long time. Then she received this note: “Dear Miss Thompson, I wanted you to be the first to know. I will be graduating second in my class. Love, Teddy Stallard.” Four years later she got another note: “Dear Miss Thompson, They just told me I will be graduating first in my class. I wanted you to be the first to know. The university has not been easy, but I liked it. Love, Teddy Stallard.” Four years later: “Dear Miss Thompson, As of today, I am Theodore Stallard, M.D. How about that? I wanted you to be the first to know. I am getting married next month. I want you to come and sit where my mother would sit if she were alive. You are the only family I have now; Dad died last year. Love, Teddy Stallard.” Miss Thompson went to the wedding and sat where Teddy’s mother would have sat, because she let God use her as an instrument of encouragement.

Take the risk and encourage someone today!