I got down from the stage. It had been my biggest singing experience for years. I’d done my best and I’d loved it. Walking out of the venue, I spotted an old friend in the stalls who is a world-class musician. Smiling up at her, I badly wanted encouragement from someone who would ‘understand.’ She stared at me stonily through the crowd before turning deliberately away to talk to someone else. I left, feeling downtrodden. Strangers around me were clapping me on the back and saying nice things, but I couldn’t absorb any of their words or get out quick enough. The person I’d most needed to hear from had stayed jealously silent.

Some people find it easy to encourage and praise others. It just flows out of them. There is no sense of threat or fear attached, no ‘agenda’ or issue. I have a friend who sends me cheer-leading emails every few days at the moment, spurring me on in this difficult season. Her words are like sweet rain and I praise God for her voice right now.

But others find praise tricky. They are so attached inwardly to their own goals and dreams, their own insecurities and fears, that they don’t even think about encouraging another along the road. They want to be in that person’s shoes… In fact would quite like to sqeeze their own feet in on top.

If I value someone or am moved by hearing or reading something somebody has written, I try to make it my business to tell them whenever I can. I’ve met some incredibly well-known, talented people totally starved of encouragement because everyone wrongly assumes they ‘know how good they are’ and don’t need telling any more. Rot!

The truth is, whether you are fresh on the circuit, or have been faithfully serving for many years, everybody needs praise to keep them spiritually alive. I regularly write to total strangers to tell them what I appreciate about their ministry. Sometimes I do this anonymously so they know there is no ‘personal agenda.’ Most never write back, (they probably think I’m a complete loon!) but that is not why I do it.

I don’t subscribe to the position some have that it will make someone ‘big headed’ to be encouraged. Allowing a person to understand that they have blessed me is, I believe, my obligation as their sister in Christ. It is good for me and good for them. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not advocating empty praise, or encouraging nothing. No. I only praise where it is due. It has to mean something and be genuine.

I have realised that there are certain people whose praise is very coveted in my own life. If I recieve encouragement from them it changes my whole month, or sometimes, though more rarely, my entire year.

Maybe you are crucial to someone else’s spiritual well-being. Perhaps it is your words of affirmation they crave in order to grow and develop. I think such praise waters the seeds of people’s dreams. A little encouragement goes a long, long way.

CS Lewis puts it thus:
‘The humblest praise most, while cranks & malcontents praise least. Praise almost seems to be inner health made audible.’

Go out today and make it your business to be an encourager.

Well done.