I carry a little booklet in my reading bag, called Stay Encouraged by K.P. Yahannan (click the link to download it for free). The chapters are short (the book is only 52 pages) and never fail to achieve their desired effect—the title says it all.

One of the book’s most powerful messages is this simple truth: when we take time to encourage and appreciate others, we encourage ourselves in the process.

I love this quote from Scottish author and minister William Barclay:

One of the highest of human duties is the duty of encouragement…It is easy to laugh at men’s ideals; it is easy to pour cold water on their enthusiasm; it is easy to discourage others. The world is full of discouragers. We have a Christian duty to encourage one another. Many a time a word of praise or thanks or appreciation or cheer has kept a man on his feet. Blessed is the man who speaks such a word.

Stay Encouraged credits the original source as William Barclay, Letter to the Hebrews: The Daily Study Bible, pp. 137-138.

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