Encouragement

I was reading the book chapters needed for my Moms Group this week, which is on Encouragement. I pulled out my big card box and decided to write a couple encouragement cards myself. As I was choosing which cards I wanted to use for which people, I stumbled across a little paper encouragement note someone wrote for me back when we were in highschool.





On one side it says:" Try out for Cheer Because...." and then both side list reasons she thought I should try out for cheer my senior year of school. Some of her ideas are cute and funny like "Soccer bruises your legs, cheerleading shows them off!" and "Your daughter AND her daughter will love trying on your uniform" :)
The other side continues with more personal, encouragement reasons: "The squad needs you!" and "You are special!! You cannot be replaced!!"

As a little background, this was written by Rebecca. She was a year older than me in highschool and on my cheer squad. I learned a lot from her and really looked up to her (as well as some of the other girls her age on the squad) like she was a big sister. She was such positive person. I'm sure she complained at times, but I don't remember that of her at all. I remember a upbeat, always-finding-the-good-in-any-situation type of person. She had beautiful black, curly hair and her make up always seemed perfect. :) She was always so kind to me. She wrote this to convince me to try out for cheer my senior year. Towards the end of my Jr year in highschool, because of some drama that had occurred (*sidenote* drama??? in highschool??? On a cheerleading squad??? WHAT??? NEVER!! :) :) ) , I was strongly considering not doing cheer at all my senior year. I recieved a lot of advice and encouragement from a lot of people to continue to do cheer but this special step that Rebecca took meant a lot to me. It showed me in not just words, but in actions, that I meant something so someone. That she cared enough for me to take a couple moments and write down her thoughts. It meant so much to me, that now, 10 years later -- I still have that little card. And I still get a smile on my face and in my heart when I re-read it. I'm not sure if Rebecca will ever read this blog, but if so - Rebecca please know how much you meant to me and how far your words of kindness went. Thank you for your love, care and positive attitude during the crazy times of highschool. I'm sure you are continuing to bless those that are now around you in life.

Little did she, or I, know how important that little card was to me. I remember this was a big factor in convincing me to tryout again. And on that day of tryouts, I met my friend's cousin. A hunk of a young man that made my eyes turn into hearts like on those old disney cartoons. :) The next day, May 5 2001, Darrin and I went out on our first date. How awesome God is in using someone's encouragement to change the entire course of someone else's life.

I wanted to take a moment to remind myself as well as anyone else who ever reads this little blog how important encouragement is. Sometimes it's easy to get caught up in life and the things that can drag you down. And even easier to complain about it all. But a little bit of encouragement can go a long way. And you never know how God will use that little seed to grow a huge garden in someone's life. I need to constantly ask myself, "What kind of seeds am I sowing?"