“Jesus did to Peter what encouragers do. He summoned the best. He built Peter up. With the skill of rock masons, encouragers stack stones of affirmation and inspiration.”- Max Lucado
Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church.”- Matthew 16:17-18 (NIV)
As Max Lucado continues Chapter 2 of How Happiness Happens, he notes that encouragement creates a Michelangelo impact on people. The sculptor visualized a figure of David in the marble and carved it out. Likewise, an encourager sees your best self and calls it out.
In addition, Dr. Barbara Fredrickson, author of Positivity, asserts that positive emotions enable us to see the bigger picture as well as expand our peripheral vision. This happened to Tim Scott. After his parents divorced when Tim was seven, his mother worked sixteen hours a day as a nursing assistant. Still, the family remained in poverty.
Later, as a teenager, Tim served popcorn at a local movie theater. When on break, he’d hurry to the fast-food restaurant across the street to order his nightly meal of French fries and water. The manager, John Moniz, noticed this and decided to encourage Tim. He brought sandwiches over to the theater. As a result, conversation led to friendship that led to a mentorship. Above all, Moniz told Tim about Jesus.
However, just as life came together for Tim, Mr. Moniz died suddenly at thirty-seven. But, Tim put the lessons he learned to good use. In 2013, Tim Scott was sworn in to the U. S. Senate as the first African American senator from the South since Reconstruction.
But it all began with a sandwich and a man willing to walk across the street to offer encouragement. Maybe, Max suggests, we can follow Mr. Moniz’s example.
Today’s question: How would you describe what encouragers do? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Biblical encouragement = a premeditated resolve”
