Lesson 4: Encourage each other

The fourth lesson from Milton Olson is an important one. It reads as follows:

"The geese in formation honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed."

Lesson 4

The lesson here for us is: "We need to make sure our honking from behind is encouraging-and not something else."

Application

Now, what do you suppose he means by "something else"? A realm of possibilities exists and, unfortunately, most of us could name a good share of them. (Teasing, criticizing, questioning, attacking, etc.) Our vast knowledge of these "something else" comments comes both from our having engaged in verbalizing them ourselves as well as having been on the receiving end. If only our experience with encouraging words was as extensive.

Something else

It's so easy to be a back-seat driver. Somehow perceptions seem heightened from this vantage point. We believe we have a thorough grasp of traffic coming from all angles, that we can intuitively read all road signs, and become the grand champion of defense for every stray animal, pedestrian, bicyclist, and motorist to hit the road. And, what's more, the driver of our vehicle is certainly going to hear about it. "What's the speed limit here? Aren't we going just a little too fast?" "Stay over in your own lane." "What do you think you are doing?" "Who taught you to drive?" Needless to say, "something else" comments are negative, critical, judgmental, self-righteous, ungrateful, unappreciative. Need I say more?

Encouraging words

When was the last time you heard encouraging words? If it was recently, good for you. For most of us, we may have a little difficulty recalling. Would you like to hear more encouraging words? Do you know why we aren't hearing more encouraging words? The biggest reason we don't hear them is that we aren't saying them. If everyone makes a point of offering encouragement to others, our ears would ring with the sound of delightful, encouraging words.

Christ's example

If you want to hear encouragement, turn to God's Word. Here we read all of his precious promises to us-promises of forgiveness, reconciliation, and eternal life. Here we read of his great love for us, so much love that he sent his Son. Here we read of the strength, comfort, guidance, protection, joy, and peace that are ours through him.

We are also encouraged to encourage one another. "Therefore encourage each other..." "But encourage one another daily." "...but let us encourage one another..." "...encourage the young men to be..." He knew we would need that support and reinforcement from one another as well, and he was right.

Conclusion

Want to make a difference in someone else's life? Give them an encouraging word. It doesn't have to be fancy, just simple, straight forward, and honest. Practice self-control when it comes to deciding to offer 'honking' from behind. Let us pour out words of encouragement and see if we all aren't encouraged in the process.

Susan Bondow, MSW, member of St. Peter, Appleton, is a wife and mother of three. Susan has written Through The Looking Glass and Back with Pastor Paul Kelm and has a CD of original music, A Child Is Born.