Encourage Those Who Matter

There is a true story of a little boy whose sister needed a blood transfusion. The Doctor explained she had the same disease that he had recovered from two years earlier. Her only chance of recovery was a transfusion from someone who had conquered it, so the boy was the ideal donor. “Would you give your blood to Mary?” the Doctor asked. Johnny hesitated, his lower lip trembled, & then he smiled & said, “Sure for my sister.”

Soon the two children were wheeled into the hospital room – Mary pale & thin; Johnny robust & healthy. Neither spoke, but when their eyes met Johnny grinned. As the nurse entered the needle into his arm Johnny’s smile faded. He watched the blood flow through the tube. With the ordeal almost over, Johnny’s voice slightly shaky, broke the silence. “Doctor, when do I die?” Only then did the Doctor realize why little Johnny had hesitated, why his lips trembled when he agreed to donate his blood. He thought giving his blood to his sister meant giving up his life. In that brief moment he had made his great decision.

A famous singer was to perform at the Grand Opera House. The concert hall was packed. Suddenly the house manager announced, “Ladies & Gentlemen, I regret due to illness our special guest will be unable to perform this evening. But we have found another singer, an equally great talent, so would you please give her a warm welcome.” The crowd groaned so loudly that nobody even heard the singer’s name. You could feel the disappointment everywhere. The stand-in singer gave it everything she had, but when it was all over all she received was brief scattered applause followed by uncomfortable silence.  Suddenly in the balcony a child stood up & shouted, “Mommy, I think you are wonderful!” Realizing what had happened; the crowd jumped to their feet & gave a standing ovation that lasted for several minutes.

There are people in our lives today, & in fact everywhere, who are bleeding emotionally, crumbling under the loads they silently carry, who never hear the words, “I think you are wonderful” Why is that?
· Because we never learned how to say them?
· We don’t think they need to hear them because they seem so strong.

So, let’s squeeze the life out of every moment.
Create memories you will treasure.
Be wise; build your life around those who matter.

I thank God every time I remember you.
Philippians 1: 3

Encourage one another & build each other up
1 Thessalonians 5: 11