AaronMarcelli.org

Posted By Aaron Marcelli on January 9, 2010

It was probably during my last years of high school that I came to appreciate people who encouraged me. Having been home schooled for ten years, I enrolled in a private school for my junior and senior years. I began to value real friendships, get involved in sports and extra-curricular events, and also about that time I became more vocal about pursuing ministry. I received immense support and encouragement from my Christian school teachers. I was obsessed with psychology at the time and made it a point to hang around a lot of people with sanguine temperaments because even though I did not enjoy the mood swings or share in the spontaneous actions, I noticed they were very complementary and flattering.

I then made it through college with a good bit of a support group from which I received affirmation through letters, money, or just good solid conversations. I was then immersed in encouragement when I was hired onto a church staff. It was not until much later I learned the sad truth that my case was not the norm with ministers but during my two years on staff I was showered with love, support, free food, positive words, and the like. Anytime I was given a Sunday night to preach, there was a line after the service telling me how great it was. Never did I leave a youth event without a note on my car complimenting my effort. I was able to keep an encouragement drawer in my office desk of all the notes, cards, pictures, gift cards receipts, etc. that had been given me. I took all of this for granted and like most things, did not miss it until it was gone. Sure, when I was let go from the church I got bombarded with phone calls and emails and was invited to several family dinners, but those slowly faded and I had to learn to pick my own self up and go.

I am still lucky though. I have people tell me how much they appreciate what I do or say, and I never take that lightly. I even had someone text me because they thought it had been too long since I had last blogged and they told me how much they enjoy reading what I write. I still get hugs from people I used to work with when we see each others at Wal-Mart. I have a high school class mate who always tells me how much talent and potential he thinks I have. And several weeks ago I was just walking a hallway in the hospital and ran into a man from the church I used to serve at. Never had this man been under my ministry or related to anyone who was, but he had always made an intentional effort to get to me, shake my hand, and speak words of power into me. He stopped me there in the hospital and picked up as though he had never quit, feeding me with power and truth. Even though we had never really sat down together and had not even been in contact in some time, he shared how he continues to pray for me and that he believes with all his heart that God has told him how huge the things are He wants to do through me.

I fought back tears in the middle of a busy hallway as I thought to myself, I needed to hear this. It is a gift from God to have people who encourage me and lift me up.

A professor in college told me the guest who encourages will always be invited back. I wish everyone could experience having people in their lives who speak into them. There is a power that comes in knowing others love you and support you. And for me to know that, those people had to make a move. They could have just thought nice things about me or prayed for me but never let me know. No, rather they came to me and let me know what to them was probably simple thoughts but served as amazing encouragement to me.

We need to recognize and appreciate those who are encouraging us. Without knowing it, they are causing us to feel empowered and calling for us to reach higher. Know who is encouraging you and keep them close!

Category: Emotion Issues, My Life / Personal
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