Do you realize that your encouraging words can give others courage?
I saw this little ginkgo leaf laying alone on a walk recently. Ginkgo leaves always remind me of Mr. Pete Frazier, my sixth grade teacher who was the first person who told me that I had a gift for writing.
He taught our class English for 90 minutes each day. We’d groan and complain, but he’d teach on. But he was also generous with extra recesses and taking our class on walks.
His house was near the school and one day he took us there to see his favorite ginkgo tree. I loved the shape of the leaves and Mr. Frazier’s enthusiasm.
My neighborhood is filled with ginkgo trees and each time I look at the leaves, like this one, I’m reminded of every time Mr. Frazier looked that tall, awkward, brown-skinned girl with giant glasses in the eyes and how he encouraged her to write on. His encouragement gave me courage! Ultimately, Mr. Frazier’s kind words paved a portion of the road that led to my life today.
Three years ago, I had the precious opportunity to email Mr. Frazier and thank him. It was a precious moment for me.
🍁 Here’s one of my very favorite wisdom sayings: “Kind words are like honey— sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.” -Proverbs 16:24
YOUR ACTION STEP: Today, find someone and call out whatever is special or wonderfully unique about them. Send a text, a note or make a call. Or, make that call and say “thank you” to whoever has made a difference in your life. This is a great time of the year to let people know that they matter!
