One of my colleagues is a mom of three young children. With her permission, I’d like to share this brief personal story she jotted down several years ago:
I needed that.
May 7, 2017. Thank you to the two wonderful strangers who took a few seconds out of their evening jog to offer me a quick word of praise and encouragement as they passed.
“You’re doing awesome!”
“You’re kicking BUTT!”
Maybe you were simply impressed that I was pushing a double stroller containing my 3-year-old and my 1-year-old.
Or maybe in those few seconds I was in your view before you passed me, you took in a few details. Maybe you really saw me. You saw that I was a new-to-the-trail, huffing and puffing, pale and overweight, self-conscious mama of two, pushing my second-hand double jogging stroller with my shiny new Fitbit strapped to my wrist and determination in my eyes.
I’m not sure if you saw all that. But what you did see inspired you to open your mouth and speak encouragement and approval and affirmation into this struggling mama’s heart.
I needed that. I almost cried after you passed. But you know what? I grinned and kept going.
My friend shared this story with me after seeing a quote I posted to LinkedIn the other day: “Be an encourager. The world has plenty of critics already.” Her story makes the point that a simple word of encouragement can go a long way. On the flip-side, can you imagine what a cutting word of criticism might have done that day?
None of us crave criticism and negativity. None of us hope someone will say something mean or derogatory to us. And yet, the world is full of critics, negativity, and spiteful words. Don’t be the kind of person who spreads that around. Instead, choose to be the kind of person you wish there were more of in this world. Be brave. Be different. Be kind. Be an encourager!
