I am sure there are lots of reasons people keep their compliments to themselves. I know some people don't encourage because they worry it'll lead to pride. But will it really? People are so discouraged right now that I feel like a kind word could go a long way to just making it through another day.
I know there are some people who don't give compliments because they don't want to gush and they think carefully about their words. But if someone is actually deserving of a compliment, why hold back? A sincere compliment is not gushing. Besides, is it possible that withholding encouragement is actually worse than gushing?
Last summer someone suggested to me that I might have the gift of words of encouragement. I found this laughable. Me? I've always thought encouraging types were warm and fuzzy and full of words. But then I started to reflect on how many people I had sent notes to during the pandemic. How many pastors I had sent positive feedback when they had preached an especially inspiring message. There are multiple times when I have given encouragement and gotten feedback about how it was exactly what they needed that day. What if I had just thought it but not said it out loud? What if I had withheld my encouragement and the person who so desperately needed it had become discouraged instead?
In my classroom this year, I started to give out "happy mail". Whenever I noticed a student improve or try hard or show unexpected kindness, I gave them positive reinforcement by giving them a happy mail in front of the class. I was amazed at how popular this was and how much the students looked forward to seeing who would get one. Parents told me how their child kept their happy mail on the fridge and how proud they were. It cost me very little time and effort and yet to my students, it was a big deal.
So, I am going to make it a point to be an encourager. There is more than enough toxic negativity in the world. If I can temporarily make someone's day through a kind word, then I will do it.
