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May 5, 2007----Issue 2
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WE LIVE BY ENCOURAGEMENT AND WE DIE WITHOUT IT, SLOWLY, SADLY AND ANGRILY.” CELESTE HOLM This quote challenges me to want to learn how to encourage every person I meet. Learning how to encourage takes time, courage, energy and knowing what makes people tick.
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This how to encourage newsletter is committed to encouraging you in your quest for an encouraging lifestyle. Includes:
Benefits of and tips for encouragement-awareness of what it takes to encourage others and the rewards and dividends it pays
Encouragement quote, poems-inspiring encouraging quotes and poems from people who know what to say to encourage others in a positive way
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ENCOURAGEMENT FOR MOMS (and kids)
In the encouraging realm, moms are pretty important people. Even Hollywood recognizes this. Two movies that I watched recently reinforced this concept and I recommend them as entertaining, encouraging, heartwarming, feel-good movies although questionable language for some.
One of the major story themes of the true tale ‘Gridiron Gang’ starring Dewayne, The Rock, Johnson was the encouraging impact of his (Sean Porter's-Coach of the Mustangs) mother. In fact, she was the driving force behind his success at Camp Kilpatrick, his very own 'wings beneath the wind' influence. She was ill, but she encouraged him to keep going, no matter the disappointments he encountered along the way.
"I always had faith in you," she said to him. "You were my mom; that was your job." he replied.
But, as Sean Porter found out working with gang members, not all moms are created equal. In an emotional scene after she died, he gave her this tribute. "She bandaged my cuts, washed my sports stuff, fed me and cheered me on. She loved me. I feel bad for those kids that did not have that kind of mother." And that perpetuated his vision to stop the controlling grip of gangs on the juveniles in LA County.
"You're the Mom and you're supposed to protect her," the older brother finally said to Olive's mother in ‘Little Miss Sunshine’.
Olive, the pageant-crazy child, trying to get to California for the Little Miss Sunshine contest, had no inkling what she was up against. And her parents, too caught up in their own chaotic lives, could not give her the support she needed at that time.
Only the eccentric Grandpa understood the insecurities Olive felt as he encouraged her to practice her routine, "a loser is someone who is so afraid of losing, they won't even try."
Olive tried and tried and finally Mom finally understood, ‘got her’, and gave the encouragement she needed. “Olive is Olive. Let her be who she is supposed to be”. It made us all want to stand and cheer.
If you are fortunate to have a good mom, encourage her for Mother's Day. If you are a mom, be encouraged. What you do, does make a difference!
Beth Moore writes in her LPM blog, "My point is, Moms, you've got to have a support group of other moms. Many who are peers. Others, who are just ahead of you. It's a necessity for mental and spiritual health in a tough, never-ending job!"
Moms...they expend alot of energy to encourage their children. But who and what encourages them?
MOTHER’S DAY IS MAY 13TH!
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It makes me wonder about Cho's mom...did she see some of the signs he was putting out there: the bizarre behavior, the loneliness, strange writings. Did she ever understand and realize his frustrations and failures, the cries for help of her troubled son. Did she know that she needed to study her son to understand what made him tick? Did she ever affirm him and tell him that she loved him? Did she know what to do? My heart and prayers go out to her as her pain must be unbearable…we might never know what goes on in the heart, soul, and home of a person, but the lessons learned from this terrible tragedy are that we need to listen to the signs our children speak without talking.
Dan Allender says, “that learning how to listen to our children is one of life’s most difficult demanding tasks.” Parents need to pay attention to what is going on in their kid’s life, to be a student of their students--at all ages. Here is a list of questions to ask yourself and maybe will lead you to start a conversation with your child. It might take work, depending on your family history, but it is never too late to try. Don’t get discouraged, keep trying and be patient with your child. Timing is everything.
1. What is normal and abnormal behavior for this age group?
2. Does the child have a support system from friends and family so that when he goes through the tough times he can cope with disappointment?
3. Can he communicate his feelings to someone else, to anyone?
4. Does he have skills, hobbies, activities that he enjoys doing in a group—or alone?
If you are a parent, you can begin today to lay the groundwork to raise successful children. It does take commitment, courage, energy, listening, encouragement for you and your child. You can do it. I can help!
Healing words to begin the process:
“if you let me talk…
if you invited me to talk and could listen
without being shocked
without remaining aloof for your protection
without immediately having all the answers
(even though I think you have answers and good ones too)
if you could enter into the process of my life
and be beside me
we could see each other in a new way.”
Can you handle me? Ulrich Shaffer
AN ENCOURAGED CHILD CAN DO AMAZING THINGS!
Author, Teacher and Mom LeAnn Miller believes parents’ encouragement is KEY to raising a successful child. She can tell the first time she meets a child in Kindergarten Round-up how involved and encouraging the parent has been. Research shows that eye contact and touch actually help children learn in their formative years. LeAnn describes how synopses and suggestions help in raising healthy kids at http://www.howtoencourage.com.
For more encouraging tips see http://howtoencourage.blogspot.com
ENCOURAGING QUOTES FOR MOMS
“While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about.”
“An (aware) mother understands what a child does not say.” Anonymous
“The child must know that he is a miracle, that since the beginning of the world, there hasn’t been and until the end of the world there will not be, another child like him.” Pablo Casals
“No matter how old a mother is, she watches her middle-aged child for signs of improvement.” Florida Scott-Maxwell
“Correction does work, but encouragement works wonders.” Kay Gramm
“Love covers over a multitude of mistakes.” I Peter 4:8
Howtoencourage.com—Encouraging Words for Family and Friends
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