"DAD, DID YOU WRITE MRS. CROUCH A SAD LETTER?"

Christy Crouch is one of Will's teachers at Hahira Middle School. She had sent a note home with him about a behavioral problem at school that was not serious, but which she saw as a potential detriment to Will's character. So Will and I returned the favor. We both wrote letters in reponse to hers.

Will's was the expression of a desire and determination to be a leader in her class and among the other students.

I had written her as well, sealed it in an envelope and asked Will to deliver my note along with his. His only clue to the content of what I wrote was the response of his teacher and he wanted to know, "Dad, did you write Mrs. Crouch a sad letter?"

"Why do you ask, son?"

"'Cause when she read it, she cried."

"No," I explained, "it wasn't a sad letter; it was an encouraging letter. Mrs. Crouch cared enough about you to be involved in your life at a level that many teachers either aren't willing to do, or don't make time to do. I told Mrs. Crouch that Mom and I were thankful for her, and commended her for caring enough about you to let us know what she saw going on in your life. I also told her about Bart having the highest semester average in his pre-Algebra class and let her know that, as his sixth-grade math teacher, she could claim part credit for that. Then at the end, I told her that we would be praying for her ministry with you and your friends at the Middle School.

"But unfortunately, most of the time when teachers hear from parents, it's to blame the teacher for a kid's poor performance, or to accuse them of not treating a student fairly. Teachers sometimes don't get much encouragement. But they need it, just like everyone else. And I guess it just overwhelmed her, son."

An extremely important (and increasingly rare) expression of God's grace is encouragement. He makes it available to the believer through Jesus Christ (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17). But like many of the other elements of grace, encouragement comes to us often (perhaps, most of the time?) as the Lord uses others as His instruments in our lives — and us in theirs.

The key person in helping Paul to grow as a disciple of Jesus Christ was Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus. That name might not ring any bells with you because we usually refer to him by a nickname given to him by the apostles — Barnabas. It means "Son of Encouragement."

Paul learned his lessons well and specifically mentions the necessity to encourage one another in eleven of his New Testament letters.

Encouragement isn't just speaking happy, "positive" words. Titus was told to "encourage and rebuke with all authority" (Titus 2:15). That includes the possibility of painful, yet loving confrontations. But it's such a vital ingredient of the Christian life, God has given some believers a special gift so that, through them, His Bride, the Church, will be encouraged to worship and minister (Romans 12:8).

"Gifted" or not, encouragement is a ministry laid on the shoulders of every believer. In fact, it should be a key reason for the gathering of the body. Hebrews 10:25 says, "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

Encouragement! Need some? See ya Sunday . . .

Encouraging you in Him,
Richard