Encourage Others to See Their Greatness

Daily writing prompt

What’s the trait you value most about yourself?

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One thing I lacked as a child was someone to tell me that I could do anything and be anything I was willing to study and work hard to achieve. Through God’s love and help in difficult moments, I comprehended that we must learn to encourage ourselves and use that gift to encourage others. We must speak into our hearts and the hearts of others that, as people made in the image of God, we can accomplish much more than we are led to believe. If every child was taught their potential for greatness, how much more loving and equal a world we would live in.

One of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is encouragement. Romans 12:8 (TPT) states, “If you have the grace-gift of encouragement, then use it often to encourage others. It is the perfect gift for a college professor. Part of teaching is to convince students who feel they can’t succeed that with help, they can be very successful. I am drawn to the student who has been told that they are less than others, like an over-achieving sibling, and that they will never be as great or smart.

I have found that when I don’t just tell them that they can write an essay or create a video for class but take the time to help them through the process, with them doing the majority of the work, they shine through like the noon-day sun. Their joy at what they have accomplished makes my heart sing. We are meant to help each other through this tedious journey.

I am not in the classroom just to spout facts and figures, but my purpose is to encourage them to believe that they are capable of more than they can think or imagine. This is part of preparing them for the workplace, for marriage, for parenting, and for being good people in this life. That is what I see as part of my job. As a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, my job is to tell my crew that they are good, capable, loved, and have greatness in their very being.

As a blogger, I love to encourage other writers. I comment on other blogs, particularly ones with no other comments because we all need to have our hearts bolstered and our abilities acknowledged. I admire the courage it takes to blog, to put our thoughts out in the world among sometimes hateful and critical people. I want people to know how much their trials, triumphs, words, and photos help me get through some days of darkness, bringing light into my life. So, I encourage them so that they will continue. Be encouraged everyone who reads this post, knowing that if you do not faint, you will reap great things and be the greatness you were created to be!