Wednesday, October 23, 2002
Wednesday, October 23, 2002
Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are
doing.
George replied that after their wedding his new father-in-
law father took him aside and handed him a little package. Inside
the package was a large gold watch which he still carried. There,
across the face of the watch, where he could see it a dozen times
a day, were written the words, "Say something nice to Mary Lou."
We all need somebody to say something nice to us from time
to time. A study was conducted at Springfield College in
Massachusetts. A group of children were told to draw a detailed
picture of a man. When they had finished, they were asked to
draw another picture of a man. This one, they were told should be
better than their first. When they had finished, they were told
again: "Now draw another man, this time better than the last."
No matter how poor their drawings might have been, no one
was criticized for his or her drawing. However, neither were they
praised or given any encouragement. They were merely told to draw
another picture.
You can probably guess the results. Some of the children
got angry and displayed their resentment openly. One refused to
draw any more. Most, however, just looked angry, said nothing,
and continued their joyless, unrewarding toil. Each of the
drawings, however, got worse and worse.
We all need to be encouraged from time to time. True, we
have found encouragement in Christ, but we also need
encouragement from one another.
(1 Thessalonians 5.11
NRSV)
George and Mary Lou were celebrating their golden wedding
anniversary. A reporter asked George, "What is your recipe for a
long, happy marriage?"
Dear God, encourage me as I encourage others. Amen.
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