When it comes to encouragement, there are significantly more people who need to hear a kind word than those willing to give one. The good news is that it doesn’t take much to tip the scales in someone’s life. You need only give a genuine compliment. In one of his "From the Pastor’s Heart" letter, Dr. Stanley writes about two people who left a lasting impression on him:
When I was in first grade, I overheard my teacher comment to someone else, “I like Charles.” She probably never knew I heard her remark, let alone how much it meant to me, but I still remember the way I felt at that moment and the encouragement it gave me during a lonely period in my life. Another person who impacted me was my Sunday school teacher. Even after I’d begun attending a different church, whenever he saw me delivering newspapers, he’d pull his car over and talk with me for a while. Then he’d buy a paper from me for about twice the price even though he had one delivered to his home. We didn’t discuss anything important, but it made me feel significant that he cared enough to go out of his way to talk to me. We probably all have similar memories of people who either deliberately or unknowingly encouraged us.
You never know the difference you’ll make by giving a kind word. When you edify someone, you’ll not only receive the blessing of gratitude from that person. You’ll also obtain the joy of having a positive mindset—one in which your eyes are open to seeing the good in the world. And when you see more good things, there’s more reason to give thanks and praise to God, because He is the creator of everything good! And that is a great encouragement indeed.
Written by Linda Canup
