Be A Cheerleader

Encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.

1 Thessalonians 5:11

I loved being a cheerleader in middle school, high school, and college. Early on, my sweet mama told me that I couldn’t be a cheerleader all my life. She knew the kind of commitment it took. But this is probably the only time Mama’s been proven wrong. You see, I’m married to a wonderful schoolteacher and coach, so I’m always cheering for his basketball and tennis players as well as the team representing his alma mater! As a mother, my cheerleading responsibilities have doubled. Even though I don’t always jump up at the right time, I try to let my husband and daughter know in different ways that I’m always on their team.

One way to “cheer” for my family is to care about the things they care about. My sweet mother taught me this gracious principle by example. I remember as a middle-school student telling her about my eyebrows growing together. Instead of telling me to get over my bushy eyebrows, she immediately took action. She cared about what I cared about at a very self-conscious stage in my life. I’ve been indebted to her ever since!

Our world is full of negative people and bullies—large and small. As daughters of our heavenly Father, we can practice His example and build up our family members first, then others. Each day we face many choices about whether to act as a “go girl” encourager or a “boo girl” discourager.

As believers in Christ, we are all on the same team, and we need to cheer for each other throughout this game of life. God so sweetens our lives through the genuine encouragement of others. We all need to practice our cheerleading skills and care!

Today, let’s root for one or two people who could use a boost of encouragement. Show you are interested in what they care about! Pray for them, and let them know that God put them on your heart.