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

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.