Two weeks ago, I had lunch with a very successful man. After we met, I was on my way back to the office and the man I had just met with called me. He said, “Doug, I just want to encourage you. When you told me ___, I don’t think I made a big enough deal about that. That is a huge deal. That is incredible. I just want to let you know how awesome that is and how proud I am of you.”
To be honest, the whole time I was on the phone, I had butterflies. Someone who I look up was encouraging me! I was speechless. I thanked him for his encouragement and we got off the phone. I was so fired up. I felt like I could conquer the world.
I could not believe that someone I looked up to would call me after we had just met to encourage me. As I continued driving, overwhelmed with joy, God spoke to my heart. He said, “Do you see how fired up you got because someone you look up to encouraged you?” Yep! He continued, “That is how people feel when you encourage them. Do not take your ability to encourage people lightly. Be intentional with your encouragement.”
That really challenged me. It is easy to understand why the encouragement of people I look up to fires me up. It is harder to believe that my encouragement means that much to people I influence, but it does.
Don’t take your ability to encourage others for granted. One word of encouragement to someone can change their life forever. Your encouragement means as much to others as the encouragement of the people you look up to means to you.
Who can you encourage today?
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