“Encouragement is awesome. Think about it: It has the capacity to lift a man’s or woman’s shoulders. To spark the flicker of a smile on the face of a discouraged child. To breathe fresh fire into the fading embers of a smoldering dream.”
~ Charles Swindoll
Several frogs were traveling through the woods, when two of them fell into a deep pit. All the other frogs gathered around and, when they saw how deep the pit was, they told the two they’d never get out. The two frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump up out of the pit.
The other frogs kept telling them to stop, that they were as good as dead. Finally, one of the frogs took heed to what the other frogs were saying and simply gave up. He lay down and died.
The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could. Once again, the crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop the pain and suffering and just die. He jumped even harder and finally made it out. Then the other frogs asked him, “Why did you continue jumping. Didn’t you hear us?”
The frog explained that he was deaf, and thought they were encouraging him.
This story holds two lessons:
- There’s the power of life and death in the tongue. An encouraging word to folks who are down can lift them up and help them make it through the day.
- A destructive word to someone who’s down can be what it takes to kill. Be careful of what you say. Speak life to those who cross your path.
The power of words! An encouraging word can go such a long way. Anyone can speak words that tend to rob another of the spirit to continue in difficult times. Special is the individual who will take the time to encourage another.
(Source Unknown)