Spreading praise
True praise roots and spreads.George Herbert, "Proverbs" in The Complete English Works, 276. The first word is critical: True The difference between affirmation and flattery…
“As you wish.”
The 1987 film The Princess Bride is an intergenerational classic with universal appeal. A loving grandfather comes over to read a book to his sick…
Through the noise
If you want beautiful music to fill your home--you have to be willing to put up with noisy practice. My oldest children are reaching a…
Affirmation
Sam Crabtree's Practicing Affirmation is excellent. He argues that the normal drift of our lives pushes us toward correction and criticism and away from encouragement…
Adoration
"The life of true holiness is rooted in the soil of awed adoration."J.I. Packer My kids laugh at my jokes. Nobody's told them, yet, that…
Education
"While we are planning the education of the future we can be rid of the illusion that we shall ever replace destiny. Make the plans…
Courage
I've heard it said that courage and cowardice are hard to predict. That some, assumed to be brave, don't hold up. And others, assumed to…
Tell ’em
We hesitate to encourage people. For a variety of reasons. We worry that we'll sound cheesy or fake. Or that the moment will be awkward.…