Do more than is expected... and then some (cont'd)

Lesson No 4
Know the power of encouragement —
Rain and sun are to flowers as praises and encouragement are to the human spirit.

Many times I have sat quietly and watched mothers tending to their children's needs. Last week as I went to the park with my friend's family, I was privilege to hold their new born baby girl while they were playing with their oldest son. As I sat quietly on the park bench I had the opportunity to watch all those that had come to enjoy this beautiful spring day. A couple had just parked their car across the park and the woman soon came in the park to meet her friends. What followed really caught my attention. She went to the playground and grabbed a young man, he must have been around 8 or 9, and seemed to be quite upset at him. Even though I was too far to hear what she was saying, her verbal expression spoke volume about her feelings and how she was addressing this young man.

I felt so helpless as I sat on my park bench thinking what this poor kid must have done to deserve this kind of treatment in public. She dragged him to the man who was waiting by his car only to hear him scream at him. I was shocked. I felt the pain and deep humiliation for this poor boy who was being scolded in public.

I believe we go through life to learn and along the way, we learn to use our free agency that we may experience all that this life has to offer. Sometimes we may make take a wrong turn and get lost and need a friendly hand to get us back on track. I believe we all make mistakes. The way we approach this experience varies widely from people to people and culture to culture. If you could have seen the body language of that young man, you would have understood the pain he must have felt. He literally looked like he shrunk because his posture was now in protection mode as though he was getting prepare to defend himself.

We mostly learn by example. Maybe these parents don't know any better, which would be very sad, but I believe there is always a great example to follow and that is that of our Savior Jesus Christ. When faced with a difficult situation, I often ponder, "What would he do if he was in my shoes?" My answer sometimes really differ from my actions and it is then that I realize what a great opportunity for growth this is.

There is a great quote by William Arthur Ward that illustrate this principle that I would like to share with you.


“Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I will not forget you. Love me and I may be forced to love you.”

May we learn to see the best in people and learn to encourage them on a regular basis that they in turn, may become the best they can be.