Encouragement

Encouragement

Don’t aggravate your children. If you do, they will become discouraged and quit trying.

Colossians 3:21

The story is told of a teacher who asked her students what each wanted to become when they grew up. “President.” “A fireman.” “A teacher.” One by one they answered until it was Billy’s turn. The teacher asked, “Billy, what do you want to be when you grow up?”

“Possible,” Billy responded.

“Possible?” asked the teacher.

“Yes,” Billy said. “My mom is always telling me I’m impossible. When I grow up I want to become possible.”

Encouragement and discouragement are worlds apart. Encouragement brings a boost, comfort, cheer, faith, hope, optimism, support, and trust, whereas discouragement brings dejection, sadness, pessimism, and a loss of confidence.

It doesn’t take me long to decide that I want to be the encouraging kind of mom, not the discouraging kind. When I’m looking for help, God’s Word is a great place to start.

Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up. (Proverbs 12:25)

Gentle words bring life and health; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. (Proverbs 15:4)

Every child needs to be encouraged. Every child needs to know that he has possibility. Every child needs to know that she has potential. We mothers also have potential—the potential to encourage our children. What a gift!

Father,

Please forgive us for the times we have discouraged our children. May we choose to apologize, and then look to you and your Word for the strength to be encouraging. Amen.