Have any of you seen the commercial that has a little boy playing chopsticks in a big auditorium in front of an audience that is waiting for a famous pianist to take the stage? Well, it ends with the famous pianist coming up behind the boy, whispering "keep playing", and joining the boy in a magnificent duet of chopsticks. The words flash up on the screen, encouragement- pass it on!! I love that message.
I have really been focusing on that with my kiddos. Too often negativity and judgement can come out of our mouths, but who does that benefit? I've heard the phrase "praise your children 10 times more than you correct" and I'd like my children to also praise each other 10 times more than they fight or argue. (ambitious goal, I know!) But isn't that what we all need more of? The world can seem overrun with bad news, judgements, and condemnation, but as Christians we are to be children of light! Never underestimate the power of what encouragement can do when you sow it into someone's life. It may turn out to be just the word they needed to find the strength to finish their day! Let me give you an example from my own life.
As a stay-at-home/homeschooling mom it is very easy for me to feel societal pressure and judgement for how my husband and I have chosen to raise our four children. Many people are very opinionated about this topic and everyone is free to have their own opinion. Just as I am free to raise my children the way God has called me to.
After a recent, unfriendly run in with our neighbor I began to feel that my family was being judged and I was feeling that my children were unwelcome. I know that my children are not perfect, they are after all still children. We work daily with our children on their character and on making good choices. But yes, there will be toys left outside. And yes, they will yell and run while playing outside. And yes, they will forget things they've been told because they are children.
So a day after this negative filled experience I was dropping my children of at Vacation Bible School. The director caught me on my way out and shared that her daughter, who is helping teach at VBS was telling about these children who were so polite and attentive and worked hard to memorize their verses. And can you guess what was the last name of those children? Since it's my story, obviously it was the Kendrick children! I almost started crying because that 2 minute story and praise of my children affirmed all our hard work and choices and wiped away all the judgement I felt on the previous day. She took two minutes to sow some encouragement into my life and my whole outlook on the reality of my family was lifted.
So allow me to sow some encouragement into your life right now. You are a beloved child of God, a unique and special person. There is no one else on this whole earth like you. You are fearfully and wonderfully made by the creator on the universe and He thinks you are pretty special. His love for you is never ending. There is nothing you can do to make Him love you anymore, and nothing you can do to make Him love you any less! He loves you!!
