When attempting to heal damaged emotions, few things are as important as positive encouragement. Years ago, a study was done attempting to assess the impact of non-possessive touch on people.
Since the skin is our largest organ, it was assumed that warm, caring, and unobtrusive pats, hugs, and handshakes would have a positive impact on others. And, it does. In fact, listening to others with warmth in our facial expressions, eyes, and touches cause the body to relax and our defenses to lower because we do not sense an attack.
The following story illustrates what encouragement can do to us versus discouragement.
Since the skin is our largest organ, it was assumed that warm, caring, and unobtrusive pats, hugs, and handshakes would have a positive impact on others. And, it does. In fact, listening to others with warmth in our facial expressions, eyes, and touches cause the body to relax and our defenses to lower because we do not sense an attack.
The following story illustrates what encouragement can do to us versus discouragement.
In
the early 1900’s, in the small village of Podsreda, Croatia, an altar boy named
Josip Broz was serving the priest at Sunday mass. As he was holding the wine
cruet, it accidentally dropped and shattered.
The village priest struck the altar boy sharply on the cheek and in a gruff voice shouted: “Leave the altar and don’t come back!”
The village priest struck the altar boy sharply on the cheek and in a gruff voice shouted: “Leave the altar and don’t come back!”
Crushed,
Josip left the church and by the time he was eighteen, he joined the newly
formed Croatian Social Democratic Party. During World War II, Josip changed his
name to Marshal Tito and in 1945 Tito became the cruel, angry, Communist dictator of
Yugoslavia.
There
was another altar boy in the early 1900’s named John who grew up in El Paso,
Illinois. He too was serving Sunday mass to a Bishop when a wine cruet
accidentally fell from his hand during communion. With a warm twinkle in his
eyes the bishop gently whispered: “Someday you will be a priest.”
John took that lesson of forgiveness and hope to heart. Archbishop John Fulton Sheen was one of the most captivating radio preachers and influential religious authors in America.
John took that lesson of forgiveness and hope to heart. Archbishop John Fulton Sheen was one of the most captivating radio preachers and influential religious authors in America.
What
power we have when we say the right word at the right time. Are your words
“apples of gold”? Today in prayer, thank Christ for His example of aptly spoken
words. Look to the Lord to give you wisdom in all that you say.
“A man finds joy in giving an apt reply--and
how good is a timely word!” - Pr 15:23
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Go to our bookstore and download one of the the PDF eBooks on building great relationships with God, self and others.
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