I WANT TO BE A CHEERLEADER
BY SHARON WELCH, LADIES MINISTRIES
PRESIDENT OF SOUTH DAKOTA
I want to be a cheerleader in life, an encourager: cheering others on as God leads them in their own personal triumphant parade. There is great power in encouragement. In the relentless pace of
everyday life we sometimes neglect to stop long enough to cheer someone else on. The people in my life who have believed in me and encouraged me have changed the course of my life.
According to the Webster Dictionary encouragement means “to inspire with courage, spirit or confidence, to stimulate by assistance, approval.” We have incredible power in other people’s lives when we exercise the gift of encouragement. I Corinthians 14:10 says, “There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.” One of our choices in life is to be either the basement voice of discouragement and negativism or the balcony voice of hope, support, and encouragement. We need to be cheerleaders in a world that seldom ventures beyond the world of self. Let’s undergird the lives of others with words of support.
A cheerleader shouts words of encouragement, approval, and congratulations. Small acts of kindness and words of encouragement can be stored in someone’s memory box for a lifetime. They say “I noticed you; you are significant.” I believe that God expects us to be cheerleaders in life. When the battle was the fiercest, Aaron and Hur held up Moses’ hand and Israel won the battle. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says, “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. .. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.”
“It is a good and safe rule to sojourn in every place as if you meant to spend your life there, never missing an opportunity of doing a kindness, or speaking a true word, or making a friend.”
–Redskin
Galatians 6:10 tells us, ‘As we have . . . opportunity. . . do good unto all men.”
Let’s be God’s cheerleaders in life.
Here are a few suggestions that can help us to become a cheerleader in the lives of others:
a. Give a sincere compliment to someone daily. People remember them for a lifetime. In our busy world we are so miserly when it comes to handing out compliments. Let’s be lavish with them; they are priceless yet cost so little.
b. Be kinder than necessary. I have a quote hanging in my office stating, “There is never a reason to be unkind. ” This is one way of living by the golden rule.
c. Be the bright spot in someone else’s day. As Christians, we should be day brighteners, letting God’s abundant life reflect in our face, words, and attitude.
d. Don’t rain on other people’s parades. Instead, be the first one to cheer someone on in their accomplishments. We do not have to be fearful that someone is going to outshine us. God has given each of us a unique place to fill in the world. Cheer others on with shouts of support, approval, and congratulations.
e. Never waste an opportunity to tell someone you love him or her. Say it daily, send notes, hug someone. We all need to know that we are loved.
f. Send a note of encouragement. Writing is almost a forgotten art and yet it takes only a few moments to jot someone a note. We know how important the written word is. God gave us His love letters to read and reread and with each reading they become more precious to us. The World Network of Prayer has cards that say, “I prayed for you today.” what could be more encouraging than to know someone is praying for you? Notes can be read again and again to brighten a day.
THE ABOVE MATERIAL WAS PUBLISHED BY THE PENTECOSTAL HEROLD, NOVEMBER 2001, PAGE 19. THIS MATERIAL IS COPYRIGHTED AND MAY BE USED FOR STUDY
& RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY.
