Time to encourage

When did we turn into a country (and a church universal) that was against things?
Wasn't there a time when we were for things?

When we were for people, not against them?
When we were encouragers instead of discouragers?
When we were positive instead of negative?
When we thought we could instead of thinking we can't?

When?

When did we turn wonderful help into abysmal efforts?

Advising: "I think you should..." "How come you didn't...?"
One-upping: "That's nothing; wait'll you hear what happened to me."
Educating: "This could turn into a very positive experience for you if you just..."
Consoling: "It wasn't your fault; you did the best you could."
Story-telling: "That reminds me of the time..."
Shutting down: "Cheer up. Don't feel so bad."
Sympathizing: "Oh, you poor thing..."
Interrogating: "When did this begin?"
Explaining: "I would have called but..."
Correcting: "That's not how it happened."

It starts early now, doesn't it? It starts in school and continues into business and into our homes. We use words like these all the time.

* Dumb!
* Stupid!
* Lazy!
* Crazy
* Mental
* Shut up!
* Hopeless
* Shame on you
* Don't be a baby.
* Stop whining.
* Be nice. (gives the message that child is not nice.)
* Here, let me do that.
* Hurry up.
* Be quiet
* Be careful.
* Why can't you get grades like your big sister's?
* I'm paying so much for your education. And now such low grades!
* What are you going to school for, just to each lunch?"

What if we turned all that around and began to encourage those around us? We were in a study last night of the Apostle Paul's life and we were talking about a man named Barnabas whose name meant Son of Encouragement. Wouldn't that be someone you would want to meet? Well, what if we became that person? What if we did all we could to encourage everyone we come in contact with? What if that person who is taking up our money at the cash register with a name tag was encouraged by us, by name? Just saying.

Encourage the smallest effort.
Stop finding fault with the wrong and applaud the right.
Look for outwardly demonstrable ways to encourage a person so others can see it too.
Reject negative responses.
Quit being cynical about everything and stow away all the sarcasm.
Make positive comments every single change you get.
Heck, write some encouraging comments on Facebook. Start a trend. Change the world.
Tell even the most negative of folks something positive about themselves.
Pay attention. Notice when someone does something good.
But be honest. Don't lie. People know when we're real. Therefore, be real. But positive.
Bite your tongue when you get up on the wrong side of the bed.

I'm tired of Facebook messages that tell me how "stupid" other politicians are. Folks, these men and women aren't stupid. They might disagree with you, but they're not stupid.

So, let's make a pact. Let's be positive for a week. Go out of our way to see the good in others. Let's change how we see the world. 

I believe at some point someone said we were to treat others as we would like to be treated. Somewhere along the line we forgot all about that. 

I declare this very day we must be positive from now on (or at least a week).