Several years ago in a small Midwestern town, crowds lined both sides of the street one afternoon.

All eyes strained in the same direction. Finally, in the distance, they saw a tiny speck moving slowly but steadily down the highway. After a moment, the people could make out the shape of a person propelling his wheelchair. Everyone was clapping and cheering as the smiling marathoner reached the edge of town.

This courageous person was traveling from one end of the country to the other. Later, someone asked, “What keeps you going? Why do you push yourself day after day? How do you do it?”

He replied, “Don't you hear it? All of those people cheering and clapping. That's what does it. All of those people believe in me. And then I believe I can make it!”

That's the positive power of encouragement! One of the most important ways we can bring out the best in people is to give encouragement. It's easy to find fault. In fact, the latest survey revealed that 100 percent of the population has some imperfection we could criticize if we chose to. In fact, it's much easier to criticize than to encourage, to “instill courage” in people. But it's much better to build up than to tear down.

Let's be builders of people. Let's encourage one another through unconditional acceptance. Norman Wright wrote, “Acceptance means showing love even when a spouse isn't returning it, even when a child turns his or her back on our teaching.” It also means not fitting your child or spouse into your preconceived mold. How many fathers have been observed trying to live out their unfulfilled sports dreams through their little league sons? Too often we're like the grandmother who was bragging on her grandchildren. Asked how old they are, she responded, “The doctor is 2 and the lawyer is 4.”

Let's encourage one another through expressing appreciation. Everyone likes to feel appreciated. Feeling appreciated gives a sense of significance. Psychologist William James said possibly the deepest need is the need to feel appreciated. Mark Twain once said, “I can live for two months on a good compliment.” Verbal compliments, words of appreciation, are powerful communicators of love and powerful motivators toward action.

Let's encourage one another through practicing kind words. Sometimes we treat coworkers and neighbors with more kindness than family. Love is patient and kind and recognizes that none of us is perfect. Love tries to encourage by being kind to one another and using kind words that have a pleasant tone. Sometimes simple words of kindness go a long way.

Let's encourage one another through exercising forgiveness. Our human nature is to hold a grudge. When we do that, we come to today with yesterday still hanging over us. How many todays have we messed up with yesterday's stuff that we're still hanging onto? The best way to deal with failures of the past is to let them be history. There comes a point in which we must forgive and move on. There's nothing like saying, “I'm giving you another chance.” When was the last time you said, “I forgive you.”

Let's encourage one another by giving time to one another. Nobody has enough time, but we realize that we don't “get time.” We “make time” for people who are important to us. Giving time is a powerful encourager. When you give someone 20 minutes of undivided attention, you're giving 20 minutes of life. We'll never have those 20 minutes again. That's an investment in another person, and is a powerful opportunity for encouragement.

A few years ago at the Seattle Special Olympics, nine contestants, all physically or mentally disabled, assembled at the starting line for the 100-yard dash. At the gun, they all started out, not exactly in a dash, but with a desire to run the race. All, that is, except for one little boy who stumbled on the asphalt, tumbled over a couple of times, and began to cry. The other eight heard the boy, slowed down, and looked back. Then they all turned around and went back to the little boy.

One girl with Downs syndrome bent down and kissed him and said, “This will make it better.” Then all nine linked arms and walked together to the finish line. Everyone in the stadium stood, and the cheering went on for several minutes, for everyone present understood how important it is for us to cheer others on and to help them run their race.

The Rev. Dr. David L. Chancey is pastor, McDonough Road Baptist Church.

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