Resources<\/b><\/p>\n
\u2022 Loving Across Our Differences, by Gerald L. Sittser, (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1994), pp. 140ff<\/p>\n
\u2022 Leadership IV, 3, 60\u20131<\/p>\n
Nothing Like a Hug<\/b><\/p>\n
When times are tough and things just aren\u2019t going your way, there\u2019s nothing like a hug. Someone putting an arm around you and telling you, \u201cHey, everything\u2019s going to be all right. You\u2019re okay.\u201d<\/p>\n
And there\u2019s nobody better at that than your mom. Just ask Nick Anderson. The Orlando Magic guard missed four free throws in the waning seconds of his team\u2019s NBA finals game against Houston and the team went on to lose a game it otherwise might have won. Later Houston guard Clyde Drexler blew past Anderson for a lay-up late in overtime. Nick Anderson had a very bad game.<\/p>\n
Understandably, when he got home Anderson was down in the dumps. \u201cMy mom put her arm around me,\u201d Anderson later said, \u201cand told me, \u2018You\u2019ve got nothing to put your head down about. You\u2019ve pulled your team through many other times.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Today in the Word, December 14, 1995, p. 21.<\/p>\n
Famous Poet<\/b><\/p>\n
Dante Bartiel Rossetti, the famous 19th-century poet and artist, was once approached by an elderly man. The old fellow had some sketches and drawings that he wanted Rossetti to look at and tell him if they were any good, or if they, at least, showed potential talent.<\/p>\n
Rossetti looked them over carefully. After the first few he knew that they were worthless, showing not the least sign of artistic talent. But Rossetti was a kind man and he told the elderly man as gently as possible that the pictures were without much value and showed little talent. He was sorry, but he could not lie to the man.<\/p>\n
The visitor was disappointed, but seemed to expect Rossetti\u2019s judgment. He then apologized for taking up Rossetti\u2019s time, but would he just look at a few more drawings\u2014these done by a young art student?<\/p>\n
Rossetti looked over the second batch of sketches and immediately enthused over the talent they revealed. \u201cThese,\u201d he said, \u201cah, these are good. This young man, whoever he is, has great talent. He should be given every help and encouragement in his career as an artist. He has a great future, if he will work hard and stick with it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rossetti could see that the old fellow was deeply moved. \u201cWho is this fine young artist?\u201d he asked. \u201cYour son?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d said the old fellow sadly. \u201cIt is me\u201440 years ago. If only I had heard your praise then \u2026 for you see, I got discouraged and gave up\u2014too soon.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bits & Pieces, March 30, 1995, pp. 14-15<\/p>\n
Duke of Wellington<\/b><\/p>\n
The Duke of Wellington, the British military leader who defeated Napoleon at Waterloo, was not an easy man to serve under. He was brilliant, demanding, and not one to shower his subordinates with compliments. Yet even Wellington realized that his methods left something to be desired. In his old age a young lady asked him what, if anything, he would do differently if he had his life to live over again. Wellington thought for a moment, then replied. \u201cI\u2019d give more praise,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Bits & Pieces, March 31, 1994, p.24<\/p>\n
Official Invitation<\/b><\/p>\n
Mercedes Ruehl, one of the few actresses to win a Tony and an Oscar in the same year (for Lost in Yonkers and The Fisher King), saw her first Broadway show when she was in grade school. Her family was in New York visiting relatives and driving through Times Square. On the spur of the moment her parents decided to see if they could get tickets to The Unsinkable Molly Brown.<\/p>\n
\u201cI remember waiting in the car,\u201d says Ruehl, \u201cwhile my mother ran up to the box office. The only tickets left were for box seats. Box seats! To me there were no better seats, and I remember my father saying, sure, go for it. One of the best qualities of my parents was that they liked to have fun.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs we watched the play, I could not take my eyes off its star, Tammy Grimes. She must have felt my adoration, because at one point she looked up and held my eyes. It was probably for no more than one second, but it seemed like ten seconds. I always felt that was my official invitation to be an actress. With her gaze I was touched like a knight on both shoulders with a sword.\u201d<\/p>\n
Madeleine Blais in Lear\u2019s, Reader\u2019s Digest<\/p>\n
Rejoicing in the Success of Others<\/b><\/p>\n
Forty thousand fans were on hand in the Oakland stadium when Rickey Henderson tied Lou Brock\u2019s career stolen base record. According to USA Today Lou, who had left baseball in 1979, had followed Henderson\u2019s career and was excited about his success. Realizing that Rickey would set a new record, Brock said, \u201cI\u2019ll be there. Do you think I\u2019m going to miss it now? Rickey did in 12 years what took me 19. He\u2019s amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n
The real success stories in life are with people who can rejoice in the successes of others. What Lou Brock did in cheering on Rickey Henderson should be a way of life in the family of God. Few circumstances give us a better opportunity to exhibit God\u2019s grace than when someone succeeds and surpasses us in an area of our own strength and reputation.<\/p>\n
Our Daily Bread, June 19, 1994.<\/p>\n
Good Dog!<\/b><\/p>\n
One morning I opened the door to get the newspaper and was surprised to see a strange little dog with our paper in his mouth. Delighted with this unexpected \u201cdelivery service,\u201d I fed him some treats. The following morning I was horrified to see the same dog sitting in front of our door, wagging his tail, surrounded by eight newspapers.<\/p>\n
I spent the rest of that morning returning the papers to their owners.<\/p>\n
Marion Gilbert in Reminisce, Reader\u2019s Digest, February, 1994, p. 12<\/p>\n
Playing Darts<\/b><\/p>\n
Everyone needs recognition for his accomplishments, but few people make the need known quite as clearly as the little boy who said to his father: \u201cLet\u2019s play darts. I\u2019ll throw and you say \u2018Wonderful!\u2019\u201c<\/p>\n
Bits & Pieces, December 9, 1993, p. 24<\/p>\n
A Compliement\u2014Great Motivator<\/b><\/p>\n
A compliment can be a great motivator, particularly if you put a little thought into the why, when, and how of delivering it. Be sure to comment whenever someone on your staff keeps working in the face of rejection, handles a difficult situation well, catches an error, given another employee a helping hand, sells a particular product for the first time, or gives you a lead that proves fruitful. Most of the time, a compliment should be given in public, either at a meeting or on the company bulletin board. If the situation is delicate, convey your praise through a personal note that the employee can share with his family. As with all rewards, praise should be given immediately after good performance to provide the greatest reinforcement.<\/p>\n
Bits & Pieces, May 27, 1993, p.12<\/p>\n
Affirming Words<\/b><\/p>\n
Recently, I heard a touching story which illustrates the power that words have to change a life\u2014a power that lies right in the hands of those reading this article.<\/p>\n
Mary had grown up knowing that she was different from the other kids, and she hated it. She was born with a cleft palate and had to bear the jokes and stares of cruel children who teased her non-stop about her misshaped lip, crooked nose, and garbled speech.<\/p>\n
With all the teasing, Mary grew up hating the fact that she was \u201cdifferent\u201d. She was convinced that no one, outside her family, could ever love her \u2026 until she entered Mrs. Leonard\u2019s class. Mrs. Leonard had a warm smile, a round face, and shiny brown hair. While everyone in her class liked her, Mary came to love Mrs. Leonard.<\/p>\n
In the 1950s, it was common for teachers to give their children an annual hearing test. However, in Mary\u2019s case, in addition to her cleft palate, she was barely able to hear out of one ear. Determined not to let the other children have another \u201cdifference\u201d to point out, she would cheat on the test each year. The \u201cwhisper test\u201d was given by having a child walk to the classroom door, turn sideways, close one ear with a finger, and then repeat something which the teacher whispered. Mary turned her bad ear towards her teacher and pretended to cover her good ear. She knew that teachers would often say things like, \u201cThe sky is blue,\u201d or \u201cWhat color are your shoes?\u201d<\/p>\n
But not on that day. Surely, God put seven words in Mrs. Leonard\u2019s mouth that changed Mary\u2019s life forever. When the \u201cWhisper test\u201d came, Mary heard the words: \u201cI wish you were my little girl.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dads, I wish there was some way that I could communicate to you the incredible blessing which affirming words impart to children. I wish, too, that you could sit in my office, when I counsel, and hear the terrible damage that individuals received from not hearing affirming words\u2014particularly affirming words from a father. While words from a godly teacher can melt a heart, words from a father can powerfully set the course of a life.<\/p>\n
If affirming words were something rarely spoken in your home growing up, let me give you some tips on words and phrases that can brighten your own child\u2019s eyes and life. These words are easy to say to any child who comes into your life. I\u2019m proud of you! Way to go! Bingo \u2026 you did it! Magnificent! I knew you could do it! What a good helper! You\u2019re very special to me! I trust you! What a treasure! Hurray for you! Beautiful work! You\u2019re a real trooper! Well done! That\u2019s so creative! You make my day! You\u2019re a joy! Give me a big hug! You\u2019re such a good listener! You figured it out! I love you! You\u2019re so responsible! You remembered! You\u2019re the best! You sure tried hard! I\u2019ve got to hand it to you! I couldn\u2019t be prouder of you! You light up my day! I\u2019m praying for you! You\u2019re wonderful! I\u2019m behind you! You\u2019re so kind to your (brother\/sister)! You\u2019re God\u2019s special gift! I\u2019m here for you!<\/p>\n
John Trent, Ph.D., Vice President of Today\u2019s Family, Men of Action, Winter 1993, p. 5<\/p>\n
Photographer<\/b><\/p>\n
Edward Steichen, who eventually became one of the world\u2019s most renowned photographers, almost gave up on the day he shot his first pictures.<\/p>\n
At 16, young Steichen bought a camera and took 50 photos. Only one turned out\u2014a portrait of his sister at the piano. Edward\u2019s father thought that was a poor showing. But his mother insisted that the photograph of his sister was so beautiful that it more than compensated for 49 failures. Her encouragement convinced the youngster to stick with his new hobby. He stayed with it for the rest of his life, but it had been a close call.<\/p>\n
What tipped the scales? The vision to spot excellence in the midst of a lot of failure.<\/p>\n
Bits & Pieces, February 4, 1993, pp. 4-5<\/p>\n
Bird Dog<\/b><\/p>\n
During quail season in Georgia, an Atlanta journalist met an old farmer hunting with an ancient pointer at his side. Twice the dog ran rheumatically ahead and pointed. Twice his master fired into the open air. When the journalist saw no birds rise, he asked the farmer for an explanation.<\/p>\n
\u201cShucks,\u201d grinned the old man, \u201cI knew there weren\u2019t no birds in that grass. Spot\u2019s nose ain\u2019t what it used to be. But him and me have had some wonderful times together. He\u2019s still doing the best he can\u2014and it\u2019d be mighty mean of me to call him a liar at this stage of the game!\u201d<\/p>\n
Bits & Pieces, August 20, 1992, pp. 15-16<\/p>\n
Car Accident<\/b><\/p>\n
It wasn\u2019t like Scott Kregel to give up. He was a battler, a dedicated athlete who spent hour after hour perfecting his three throw and jump shot during the hot summer months of 1987. But just before fall practice everything changed. A serious car accident left Scott in a coma for several days. When he awoke, a long rehabilitation process lay ahead. Like most patients with closed head injuries, Scott balked at doing the slow, tedious work that was required to get him back to normal\u2014things such as stringing beads. What high school junior would enjoy that?<\/p>\n
Tom Martin, Scott\u2019s basketball coach at the Christian school he attended, had an idea. Coach Martin told Scott that he would reserve a spot on the varsity for him\u2014if he would cooperate with his therapist and show progress in the tasks he was asked to do. And Tom\u2019s wife Cindy spent many hours with Scott, encouraging him to keep going. Within 2 months, Scott was riding off the basketball court on his teammates\u2019 shoulders. He had made nine straight free throws to clinch a triple-overtime league victory. It was a remarkable testimony of the power of encouragement.<\/p>\n
Our Daily Bread, April 9<\/p>\n
The Pianist<\/b><\/p>\n
An elderly widow, restricted in her activities, was eager to serve Christ. After praying about this, she realized that she could bring blessing to others by playing the piano. The next day she placed this small ad in the Oakland Tribune: \u201cPianist will play hymns by phone daily for those who are sick and despondent\u2014the service is free.\u201d The notice included the number to dial. When people called, she would ask, \u201cWhat hymn would you like to hear?\u201d<\/p>\n
Within a few months her playing had brought cheer to several hundred people. Many of them freely poured out their hearts to her, and she was able to help and encourage them. One man who was ousted from his profession for an indiscretion took work as a hod carrier simply to put bread on the table. He was suddenly plunged into a drastically different world. Instead of going to an office each day, he was hauling loads of concrete block up to the fifth level of a construction site. Gone was the piped-in music in the corridors; now he had to endure blaring transistors. Any girl who walked by was subject to rude remarks and whistles. Profanity shot through the air, especially from the foreman, whose primary tactics were whining and intimidation; \u201cFor ____ sake, _____ can\u2019t you do anything right? I never worked with such a bunch of ___ ____ in all my life .\u201d Near the end of the third week, the new employee felt he could take no more. \u201cI\u2019ll work till break time this morning,\u201d he told himself, \u201cand then that\u2019s it. I\u2019m going home.\u201d He\u2019d already been the butt of more than one joke when his lack of experience caused him to do something foolish. The stories were retold constantly thereafter. \u201cI just can\u2019t handle any more of this.\u201d A while later, he decided to finish out the morning and then leave at lunchtime.<\/p>\n
Shortly before noon, the foreman came around with paychecks. As he handed the man his envelope, he made his first civil comment to him in three weeks. \u201cHey, there\u2019s a woman working in the front office who knows you. Says she takes care of your kids sometimes.\u201d \u201cWho?\u201d He named the woman, who sometimes helped in the nursery of the church where the man and his family worshiped. The foreman then went on with his rounds. When the hod carrier opened his envelope, he found, along with his check, a handwritten note from the payroll clerk: \u201cWhen one part of the body of Christ suffers, we all suffer with it. Just wanted you to know that I\u2019m praying for you these days.\u201d<\/p>\n
He stared at the note, astonished at God\u2019s timing. He hadn\u2019t even known the woman worked for this company. Here at his lowest hour, she had given him the courage to go on, to push another wheelbarrow of mortar up that ramp.<\/p>\n
Dean Merrill, Another Chance, Zondervan, 1981, p. 138<\/p>\n
The Painting<\/b><\/p>\n
The American painter, John Sargent, once painted a panel of roses that was highly praised by critics. It was a small picture, but it approached perfection. Although offered a high price for it on many occasions, Sargent refused to sell it. He considered it his best work and was very proud of it. Whenever he was deeply discouraged and doubtful of his abilities as an artist, he would look at it and remind himself, \u201cI painted that.\u201d Then his confidence and ability would come back to him.<\/p>\n
Bits and Pieces, September 19, 1991, p. 9<\/p>\n
Resources<\/b><\/p>\n
\u2022 Swindoll, Growing Strong, p. 142; Make up Your Mind, p. 66;<\/p>\n
\u2022 Strengthening Your Grip, p. 42<\/p>\n
Light-Weight Championship<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cOne Saturday afternoon I watched the telecast of the world\u2019s light-weight boxing championship match. The boxers were a thirty-one-year-old Scotsman and a man from the United States who was six years younger. The Scot was the reigning champion, and the bout was being fought before a crowd of twenty thousand in Glasgow, Scotland. The champion had said before the match that he would rather die than be beaten before his own people; but the younger contender had never before been beaten in a professional contest.<\/p>\n
\u201cSoon after the match began it became clear that the battle would be close. As I sat watching, I heard something unlike anything I had ever heard before. It was faint at first, but it seemed to be singing\u2014singing at a boxing match! Gradually, it became louder; hundreds and hundreds of male voices singing a strange Scottish melody. I could hardly believe it. They were singing encouragement for their champion. As he fought for his crown, but even more for the respect of the Scottish people, they sang to encourage him.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have not thought about that contest since without a lump rising in my throat; nor have I thought of it without thinking how like the Christian\u2019s battle it was, and how like the role of the church to sing encouragement for its members\u201d.<\/p>\n
From Charles Durham, Temptation, InterVarsity Press, 1982, p. 125<\/p>\n
Only One With Hand Up<\/b><\/p>\n
CBS News anchor Dan Rather admits he was always fascinated by the sport of boxing, even though he was never good at it. \u201cIn boxing you\u2019re on your own; there\u2019s no place to hide,\u201d he says. \u201cAt the end of the match only one boxer has his hand up. That\u2019s it. He has no one to credit or to blame except himself.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rather, who boxed in high school, says his coach\u2019s greatest goal was to teach his boxers that they absolutely, positively, without question, had to be \u201cget up\u201d fighters. \u201cIf you\u2019re in a ring just once in your life\u2014completely on your own\u2014and you get knocked down but you get back up again, it\u2019s an never-to-be-forgotten experience. Your sense of achievement is distinct and unique. And sometimes the only thing making you get up is someone in your corner yelling.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reader\u2019s Digest, December, 1990<\/p>\n
Quote<\/b><\/p>\n
Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I will not forget you.<\/p>\n
– William Arthur Ward<\/p>\n
Source unknown<\/p>\n
Weight Watchers<\/b><\/p>\n
Jean Nidetch, a 214 pound homemaker desperate to lose weight, went to the New York City Department of Health, where she was given a diet devised by Dr. Norman Jolliffe. Two months later, discouraged about the 50 plus pounds still to go, she invited six overweight friends home to share the diet and talk about how to stay on it. Today, 28 years later, one million members attend 25,0000 Weight Watchers meetings in 24 countries every week. Why was Nidetch able to help people take control of their lives?<\/p>\n
To answer that, she tells a story. When she was a teen-ager, she used to cross a park where she saw mothers gossiping while the toddlers sat on their swings, with no one to push them. \u201cI\u2019d give them a push,\u201d says Nidetch. \u201cAnd you know what happens when you push a kid on a swing? Pretty soon he\u2019s pumping, doing it himself. That\u2019s what my role in life is\u2014I\u2019m there to give others a push.\u201d<\/p>\n
Irene Sax in Newsday<\/p>\n
Resource<\/b><\/p>\n
\u2022 Liberating Ministry From The Success Syndrome, K Hughes, Tyndale, 1988, p. 143<\/p>\n
Abe Lincoln<\/b><\/p>\n
\u2022 Abraham Lincoln carried with him a newspaper clipping stating he was a great leader. We can\u2019t all be heroes because someone has to sit on the curb and clap as they go by. – Will Rogers<\/p>\n
Source unknown<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Resources \u2022 Loving Across Our Differences, by Gerald L. Sittser, (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1994), pp. 140ff \u2022 Leadership IV, 3, 60\u20131 Nothing Like a Hug When times are tough and things just aren\u2019t going your way, there\u2019s nothing like a hug. Someone putting an arm around you and telling you, \u201cHey, everything\u2019s going … Continue reading “Encouragement”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-600","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermons"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/600","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=600"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/600\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=600"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=600"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=600"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}