41 Things Encouragers Ought to Know (part three of four)

The following is the continuation of a list that I am calling: "41 Things Encouragers Ought to Know."  You can read part one here and part two here.

 
21.  An encourager often encourages in significant ways and may be completely unaware of the encouragement he or she is actually communicating.  In other words, our capacity to encourage may be much larger than our awareness.

 
22.  An encourager has learned that paying attention to another’s successes and failures is critical.  These are special moments for people. 

 
23.  An encourager often uses words that are long remembered by the hearer.   In some cases, these words are the only positive, encouraging communication that person has received in a long time.

 
24.  An encourager understands that many people grow up hearing discouraging, insulting, and filthy remarks directed toward them.  An encourager’s words may feel like a drink from a fresh, cool mountain stream to some people.

 
25.  An encourager pays attention to the little things that someone else does.  She takes nothing for granted.  Rather she expresses her appreciation to someone who has worked hard to get a task done right.  For instance, someone may have gone to a great deal of trouble to prepare a meal or to purchase a gift.  An encourager will express gratitude to that person for what they have done.

 
26.  An encourager understands that one size does not fit all.  What encourages one may not encourage another.

 
27.  An encourager is sensitive to others and does not wish to discourage or demoralize another.

 
28.  An encourager is very careful with humor.  Many, many people have been devastated by someone who then said, "I was only joking."  An encourager only uses humor that is self-deprecating or is in some way safe.

 
29. An encourager steps in when someone has experienced disappointment.  Life has much disappointment.  Perhaps a high school student has run for student government president and wasn’t elected.  Perhaps another person interviewed for a new job and wasn’t chosen.  These can be very disappointing moments.  An encourager is sensitive to these moments and seeks to encourage.

 
30.  An encourager remembers the forgotten people.  Is someone in the hospital?  Is someone in a nursing home?  Is there someone who rarely gets included at social gatherings?  An encourager seems to encourage the forgotten.