A WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT

Our words “to others” and “about others” are so important.  I’d venture to say they are life changing!

Proverbs 18:21  “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.”

This scenario happened many years ago.  I was a junior in high school at the time.    Summer break had come to an end and the other half of my high school years was about to commence.

I found myself lodged in a second year Spanish class.  I came to this choice figuring that if I made it through one year of Spanish, I could attempt another year.   That was a wrong assumption.   The teacher appeared shortly after the students were seated and began waxing eloquent in Spanish.   Now in that we had all taken a year of Spanish, this man assumed that we all had made straight A’s in his class and could now communicate fluently in his native tongue.

The horror of this story is that I remained in his class for almost six weeks before I had the courage to admit that I barely understood a word said in his class.    It wasn’t rocket science for me to determine that I needed to abandon this language tuition, and embark on another course of study.

Ah, shorthand!   In thinking ahead for my future employment, I assumed that being able to take shorthand could prove to be a real plus in the secretarial field.     

I tried graciously to admit that language wasn’t my forte and so I signed up for a shorthand class with Miss May.    When I entered this class she was very receptive of me which immediately endeared me to her.   The challenge was…..I was now six weeks behind all the other shorthand students.  

Somehow in the discovery of realizing her new student was six weeks behind the others.  This “kind and patient” teacher agreed to stay after class each day to try and bring me up-to-speed (and I mean that literally) on the basics of Gregg shorthand.

Amazingly, after about six weeks of this after-school study and instruction time, I was now in sync with the other students.  I’m not saying I was the brightest by a long shot, but at least I was now participating in the same chapter in the book as the rest of the class.

Ah, first year of shorthand was over.   This was a teacher that made learning a joy.   That deserves recognition right off the bat, doesn’t it?

Miss May would take us on field trips and fun events.  I recall that our class spent an evening in her apartment making taffy.  She was a teacher who became a friend and a mentor, all in one.  No wonder everyone enjoyed her class and her approach to teaching.   She made learning “fun.” 

Summer break was over and it was back-to-school for my senior year.   In that I so enjoyed Miss May’s class, I decided to enlist for a second year of shorthand.    Miss May married during that summer, following the school recess, we now  addressed this beautiful woman by her new name.

As we entered her class, I sat at the far wall, second row.   Funny the things we remember!   She not only taught shorthand, she taught good posture as well.   I know that, because so often she would meander by my desk, requesting me to sit up straight and pull my shoulders back.   She still comes to mind when I’m attentive to my posture.

You know, no one ever corrected my posture before, but I discovered you sure appear more confident in appearance if you’re sitting up straight, not to mention the appreciation of your vertebrae.

I wanted to write about this dear person, because she was the first person that I can remember in my life who ever gave me a WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT.    

I can’t recall all the details of our work assignment in class, but we were asked one day to write a business letter, using the right punctuation, salutation, complimentary closing, date, etc.   You know, a real official-like letter.    Every student submitted their letters in class on the specified day.   

She must have been very busy that night, because the following day she came to class with our “letter-writing efforts” in hand complimented by her assigned grades in the upper right-hand corner.  If my memory serves me right, she employed a “red” marking pen, so that her comments and grade evaluation were boldly captured.  

I think (?) I got an A.   Her comments that appeared at the top of my letter and her words are forever etched in my mind and in my heart:

          Dianne, you have a flair for letter-writing!

That sentence changed my life!!!   Can you believe it?   You see, the way I was raised I didn’t receive any verbal encouragement, and often I felt as though I would never amount to much.    This phrase, written at the top of my typed business letter, reflected the fact that this teacher could see “potential” in me.

Towards the end of the year, the business academia of the school were going to present awards.   One award to be given was entitled the most “Outstanding Achievement Award. “             

The high school students were gathered for this event in the school gym.   I remember positioning myself at the top section of the bleachers as I confidently knew that my name would not be heard resounding through the PA system in the auditorium.   But I was comfortable and ready to enthusiastically applaud whoever was chosen.

I did notice that one of my classmates from the shorthand class had positioned herself on the bottom row of bleachers, the most convenient row you might say for easy access to receive an award if your name was called.  She received straight A’s if I remember correctly.   She was a very bright student.   My assumption is that she had probably figured out that she would be chosen, and so positioned herself in that convenient location.

Several awards were presented, and then the moment came when the name of the recipient was to be announced for the achievement award.   MY NAME was announced!   I could hardly believe it.   I think friends seated around me had to confirm it to me, and move me out of my comfortable position  at the top of the auditorium so I could get down the twenty or more rows to receive the award.

I was given the award and $100.   I’m still amazed.   But let me share what was more meaningful than the plaque and the $l00.   It was the fact that this teacher believed in me, and that she felt that “my life had potential.”   How was I to know that she thought my life had any potential in the business sphere if she hadn’t told me in writing on my first attempt at a business letter?

This isn’t the end of the story.   We became friends after I got out of high school, and we have remained friends to this day.  I will always “cherish her” as an encourager personified!   Why? Because she took the time to let me know that my efforts and skills were beginning to blossom, and that I had potential.

I’m not the best with writing or authorship, but what’s really important is that she affirmed me in an area in which God was working and preparing me.

Who in your life needs YOUR WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT?

Let’s all keep a perceptive eye on the potential in others….and then, be sure and communicate that to them.  

Our words can serve as a CONSTRUCTION ZONE or a DEMOLITION SITE!

Proverbs 18:21  “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.”

Proverbs 16:21  “The wise in heart will be called prudent, and sweetness of the lips increases learning.”