By Lois Hewitt

I wanted so much to be a cheerleader in high school.  They were the coolest.  But I had a long list of deficiencies that did not allow for that to happen.  Being uncoordinated and clumsy were not prerequisites for cheering.

It took me a long time, but I finally realized that I can be a cheerleader right now.  What does a cheerleader do?  They encourage the home team to win games.  They encourage the fans to support the home team.  They are encouragers.

Each of us have that ability inside.  Luckily it does not require high kicks or doing the splits (or as I call it breaking a hip).  The cheerleading I am talking about does not even require much physical activity.

Encouraging words may not seem like something that can change the world…but they can. In the same way negativity kills.

We all have dreams.  Some real and some more fanciful.  Not every dream or idea can become a reality.  The world is quick to point out the flaws in your plan.  Point out how the idea could never work.  Discouraging.

Of course, one cannot encourage ideas that are dangerous in any way.  Like all things in life there is a fine line we all have to walk.

What I am talking about is a more personal type of dream. Not jumping off a cliff, although some people do that successfully (can’t imagine the encouraging words the cliff jumpers heard) but more like a desire to learn the guitar or to paint.

Many times our concerns turn to how to make money. Not that we are greedy, but many of us do live paycheck to paycheck without any safety net. If I decide to be a writer (my big dream), the likelihood of having a future of homelessness and hunger would be pretty good.  I realize that I should not quit my day jobs. I do, however, receive many encouraging words spurred from my rantings and those sentiments fill my soul beyond belief.

So it is with others, they may not quit their jobs to become singers, but they may enjoy an extra chorus of Moonriver in the shower. Maybe the encouragement gets them the strength to go to karaoke night. Maybe that little adventure feeds their soul. And it came from a few simple words of encouragement.

As Christians, Jesus calls us to be encouragers. We are told many times to choose our words wisely and to say nothing that is harmful. His example is one of encouragement and love.

I find it to be so important to acknowledge strides others have made or compliment someone regarding a goal reached. These words can ease the pain of disappointments experienced along the way and be affirming of additional strides to come. All must be said with a genuine and sincere heart.

I never was a cheerleader in high school (and that’s okay…now) but I have the opportunity to be a cheerleader every day. Don’t forget those closest to you.  We tend to forget they need encouraged just like anyone else, maybe more so.

Will it change the world?  Probably not but a kind and encouraging word can change an individual’s world.  And that is a most beautiful thing!