The Power of Praise
The beginning of last month, I received an email from a lady that
expressed her gratitude for us making the Program Success Magazine
available to read free of charge. She stated how she anticipated its
launch each month and how she reads it cover to cover and how it
improved her live in many areas.
That same day, one of our advertiser call me and thank me for the
positive outlook The Program Success Magazine provides to the
community and expressed the amount of business he has received
from advertising in the Magazine. Then, later that very same day, a
lady who was profiled in an article, call me to say thanks and show
appreciation.
Of course, my concern was, is this the last day of my life? Am I about
to die? Then I realized quite the contrary. My world is not coming
to an end; I’m just suffering like so many of us, from the lack of
positive reinforcement and recognizable appreciation in light of the
many negative things that burdens our lives.
This negative economic is not good. The unemployment rate is too
high. Our schools are under-funded. Our businesses are failing. War
crisis around the world are being mishandled. The Sexual Misconduct
in our Churches is growing. Government Mistrust is at an all-time
high. World Peace exists only in our prayers. These are a just few of
the negative things that negatively affect our lives daily.
We must be careful today, however, with all the negative things that
are going on around us that we not negate all that is positive. There
are a lot of things that are positive going on in our homes, on our
job, at church, with our children, and in the community, despite that
which is evidentially negative. It seems that the roar of all that is
negative reduces the cry of that which is positive to a whisper.
When we only focus and take to heart the negative, it frown our
face, burdens our heart, bitters our coffee, dims our view, shorten our
lunch, limited our friends, and causes us to click our heals
together and wish for any-place but home.
The pain and sorrow of negativity is the same pain and sorrow the
body experiences from a hurt toe, tooth or finger. Your whole life
seems inhibited, as does your body from the pain of one of these
feeble members. Yet, there is so many more body parts that are not
hurting, which is good, and a fact that is worthy of celebration and
a fact that should producing comfort and cheer… instead the pain of
the toe, tooth or finger garnishes all the attention.
There is a woman at work who is never late and never causes you to
raise your voice at her, yet she is overlooked because too much of
your attention is paid to those always late, those too loud, and those
in constant needs of nudging. There is a man who always has a kind
word, yet his words never brighten your day because your mind is
preoccupied with the things that didn’t go your way.
There is a waitress at your favorite restaurant that has never gotten
your order wrong, makes sure your guest is treated properly and that
your time allocations are met. Yet, she’s never attributed a word that
makes her know you realize her person and not just her service.
There is a Deacon who makes sure you are visited even when
you’re not sick, yet his visits are unappreciated because of your
disappointment over the Pastor not coming. There is a child at home
who may not think to do everything you think he/she should, yet your
child is honest, decent, respectable, and makes you proud in areas
you never take time to mention.
Words of encouragement and appreciation add
years to our lives. They are the seeds planted that
yields a continuance harvest. The power of
praise fuels stellar mechanisms. Let’s
not ever assume that which is
functional needs no exactit Ց