On Eagle’s Wings: See the potential in others – and encourage it

WE are living in continuous fear, stress and discouragement, it seems.

Every day you look at the news which is full of depressing stories, violence and predictions of doom.

When a group of people get together, almost invariably the subject turns to the latest violent crime or political mayhem, or worse, judging others.

In my opinion, it’s no wonder that we live constantly in fear, not trusting any stranger or scenario that looks strange.

Sadly, I find myself guilty of the exact same thing and have a tendency to distrust almost all strangers who approach me on the street.

I was challenged on this sad state of affairs in a recent quiet time devotion.

I find it easy to encourage patients I see in hospital or in my rooms.

I find it easy to encourage strangers, as well as friends, on social media.

I don’t find it easy to encourage dodgy looking people on the street, however.

And I must confess that I am most guilty of not encouraging my own family enough.

When I am tired after a long day or even an early morning with not enough sleep, it is often too easy to verbally attack a family member.

Nelson Searcy, in my devotional, suggests practicing speaking encouragement to our spouse and children.

He says, don’t focus on the things they do wrong, but rather treat them as if they were already all they can be.

He suggests letting your words grow out of the vision of their fulfilled potential instead of their current reality.

According to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, “If you treat an individual as he is, he will remain how he is. But if you treat him as if he were what he ought to be and could be, he will become what he ought to be and could be.”

If we imagine every person we meet in our daily activities as if they were wearing an invisible sign that says ‘Encourage Me!’, we could soon see their scowling face turn to radiant smiles.

In other words, if you see someone without a smile, give them one of yours.

It doesn’t cost you anything but may be worth the world to them.

We live in a community that has the potential to be so much more friendly, helpful and inviting than it is already.

I think if we encouraged more, nitpicked less and treated people as if they are already at the pinnacle of their potential, we could very well see a major turnaround and turn our jewel of the coast into a sparkling diamond.

Yours in Christ.

Sean