Encouragement

One morning in 2010 I woke up to find I was married to a grandfather!
Since then he’s been a grandfather another five  times and I suspect it’s not over yet!
And you know what?
It’s actually okay being married to a grandfather! More than okay!
My husband was watching two of our grandchildren for the day.
They walked to the park and played in the back yard. They read books and built a train track; they ate strawberries and took a nap - at least the baby and granddad did – not sure what the three-year-old was doing!
And through it all our three-year-old grandson was a constant encouragement.
He calls his grandfather, “Dad-Dad”.
When Dad-dad finished building the train track a sweet voice beside him said, “Well done Dad-Dad”.
When Dad- dad cut up a plate of fruit for afternoon tea he was thanked with, “Well done Dad-dad!”
Every small and rather unremarkable task completed was met with an appreciative, “Well done Dad-dad!”
Naive words from a three-year-old – simple words of appreciation and encouragement which brought a smile to his granddad’s face and an indescribable experience of love to his heart.
And no wonder! It’s how we are made!
We human beings thrive on genuine appreciation and encouragement
We are at our best when we are acknowledged and appreciated for the everyday person we are and for the everyday things we do.
Jesus teaches that we are at our best when we are faithful with the small things.
Small things like remembering to say thank you.
Small things like letting someone know you appreciate them and their actions.
This week who can you encourage to be their very best by sharing some simple words of appreciation with them?
 

Karen Siggins