When I was in sixth-grade, I had a teacher that I really admired. So when this teacher returned a test to me with the following remark, “100% Super Job, Steve!” I held on to that paper. When I got to the end of sixth-grade, I didn’t throw that test away with the rest of my papers, but instead, I folded it up and placed it in a drawer.
Fast forward ten years. I am now packing my belongings from my parents house because I am now married and moving to a new home with my wife. As I packed my things, I found that folded up test from sixth-grade. I unfolded it once again and saw those words, “100% Super Job, Steve!” And once again, I chose not throw that test away, but rather packed it up with all my belongings and moved it to our new home.
Just last week, I shared this story in a sermon. I was trying to impress upon everyone the power of encouragement. To my surprise, a fellow classmate saw a video of this sermon and shared it with “Mr. Glass,” my sixth-grade teacher. Since I hadn’t seen Mr. Glass in nearly 40 years, you can imagine my surprise and thrill when I received a note from him commenting on my sermon. His note said, “100% Super Job, Steve!!!!!!!!!!!!”
You know what? I think I’m going to print that out, fold it up, and put it in my drawer too!
Friends, don’t sell your influence short. You can make a difference in the lives of people. Your words have tremendous power. Why not take just a minute of your time this week, and let your words be an encouragement to someone? Who knows, your words may be words that will never be forgotten.