January 26, 2017 (Thursday)
Isn’t it amazing that we remember certain things from our youth, things that one would have expected to be forgotten along with so many others? I was thinking last night about a spelling bee we had in my fourth grade class. I kept spelling words correctly until there were only two of us kids left standing. Then I was given a word that I misspelled and the other child won the contest. The word was, “bicycle.” Here we are, 76 years later, and I’m sharing with you the very word I misspelled back then. It must have been a meaningful experience for me to keep on remembering it this long.
One of the reasons it is memorable is the fact that I was beaten by only one person. That was almost as good as being the winner. For a child who was not accustomed to being the best at anything, being second was an incredible boost for my self esteem. I was not the winner, but I was more successful than everyone else in the class, and the experience made me understand that I was capable of better performance than I had been giving. It gave me incentive to try harder and to feel better about myself.
Every day we are given the opportunity to say an encouraging word to someone. I believe this is one habit we can all develop and something we can practice as we speak with others daily.
I was so saddened to read of a young teen aged girl who hanged herself on camera on facebook. What was going on in her mind as she did that? What had happened in her life to cause her to believe that suicide was the best choice she could make?
Receiving encouragement through compliments or praise, given by anyone, can be an empowering experience. Just telling someone that you have noticed something good about them will help them get through the day. “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV).
I’m thankful for the recognition given me as a nine-year-old child in the third grade 76 years ago; I am sure it strengthened my will to be happier and better adjusted. I’m thankful for every encouraging word that has come to me through the years. I remember things said to me and actions taken toward me by family members, teachers and others that have encouraged me to believe that I can be better and do better. My prayer is that I may do the same for others.
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me–put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
(Philippians 4:4-9 NIV).