Give the Gift of Encouragement this Christmas
As Christmas draws near, I’m thinking about my extended family—those who are no longer with me. Parents, aunts, uncles, and other relatives that shaped my life using “the oldest therapy known to man.” What do I mean? It’s been said, “Words of encouragement, skillfully administered, is the oldest therapy known to man.” Words are powerful things. They breathe life into us and instill strength—and courage—to carry on.
Christmas makes me think of my Uncle Jim and how his words of encouragement inspired me to be a writer. He was president of the publishing company that produced the nationally known magazine called Ideals. As the name implied, it was a magazine designed to print six annual issues of “wholesome, old-fashioned ideals—homey philosophy, poetry, art, music, neighborliness, and inspiration” to its American subscribers.
When I was in middle school, I had written a poem about my mother who died a few years earlier. It was called “A Mother is a Special Friend.” The poem highlighted the aspects of motherhood that meant the most to me as a child. In retrospect, it wasn’t noteworthy—except to me—and apparently to him.
One day, he took my rough draft with him to work, showed it to the editors and the graphic designers. A week later, he brought it home and told me how much it touched the editors. “It’s quite good,” they said. “Very sentimental. We love the way you express yourself.”
“I can live for two months on a good compliment.”
Mark Twain
Then he reached into his attaché case, pulled out a mock-up of the next issue of Ideals magazine, opened it, and laid it on our kitchen table. In his hand was a layout of my poem, typeset in a beautiful script font. Intricate artwork, created by the graphic designers, gracefully bordered the page, framing my poem. Then he gently laid it inside the center spread so I could see what it would look like published.
Intuitively, I understood my poem would not actually be featured in this prestigious publication—but it didn’t matter. I had just received a gift far more precious—a preview of what my work could look like in a well-known national publication—someday. He’d given birth to a vision of what could be. And something else. He gave my spirit wings—and I could fly.
Now, decades later, although I write professionally every day, I write with confidence—but I still consider myself a student, an apprentice. Hemingway once said, “We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master.”
With the holidays just a few weeks away, I remain grateful for my Uncle Jim for believing in me—and helping this former middle school student believe in himself. For years, he gently propelled me forward creatively. And he did it by giving the gift of encouragement.
So, this Christmas, I will once again think of him, and call into remembrance how the people who love us most—have the power to shape us—with nothing more than words.
I guess the old adage is right. “Words of encouragement, skillfully administered, is the oldest therapy known to man.”
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SOMETHING TO CHEW ON: Growing up, who believed in you? How are you different because of life-giving words from someone who loved you? This Christmas, ask yourself, who is looking at me—to believe in them?
SPECIAL NOTE: I want to take a moment to wish you a very Merry Christmas with your family. Today’s blog talked about “giving the gift of encouragement” to others. I attempted to do this with my most recent novel, THE DESERT BETWEEN US. This love-after-loss, victory-over-grief novel speaks to the heart about the loss of a loved one and how to be victorious.
If you know someone who is grieving this Christmas, this novel would be a thoughtful gift. An Amazon link is below where you can read Chapter One in its entirety. (It’s only five pages and sets up the entire novel.) Just click on the “READ SAMPLE” button under the book cover. https://amzn.to/4c1twi8
