When I was in seventh grade, my Chinese Literature teacher gave our class an assignment. He provided the first part of a couplet, and asked all the students to match it with a second part. When the class met again the following week, he read some of the results out loud. To my total surprise, he announced my name and said that my composition was the best match. What I had composed was really nothing worth mentioning, but what stuck with me all these years is the effect of his encouraging words. This happened about forty-five years ago, yet I still have a good feeling in my heart whenever I recalled that very moment. Possibly, my teacher’s generous compliment so touched me that I was inspired to also be an encourager to others. But I admit that I have not been doing a good job on this. Through the years, I have become convinced that words of encouragement truly can motivate others to excel in what they do. This reminds me of a story I read from the Chicago Tribune. Malcolm Dalkoff is a professional writer. He shared that when he was a boy growing up in Rockland, Illinois, he was terribly insecure and shy. He was quiet, he was scared, and he mostly stayed to himself. He had few friends, and he had no self-confidence. He said that one time his English teacher, Mrs. Brauch, assigned the class to write an essay. Malcolm turned in his homework. When he got it back, he found that Mrs. Brauch had written four words on it: “This is good writing.” Malcolm said, “Up until I read those words, I had no idea of who I was or what I was going to be. After reading her note I went home and wrote a short story, something I had always dreamed of doing but never really believed I could do.” Thirty some years later, Malcolm went back to his school to say thank you to Mrs. Brauch for changing his life with her encouraging words. The Bible says, “We should keep on encouraging each other to be thoughtful and to do helpful things.” (Hebrews 10:24 - CEV)

當我在七年級的時候, 國文老師給全班一個功課. 他要我們學習做對聯. 他出了上聯, 然後要我們學生配對下聯. 一週後上課的時候, 他把一部分的結果念出來. 叫我極其驚訝的是, 他讀出我的名字, 同時他說我的下聯是全班中配對得最好的! 事實上, 我那句對聯根本不值一提. 然而老師的話卻給了我很大的鼓勵, 也對我有持久的影響. 這已經大概是四十五年前的事了. 但一直到現在, 我每次回憶那一刻的時候, 心底裏還是有一種溫馨的感覺.  也許因為老師如此慷慨的評語, 啟發了我也要去鼓勵別人.  不過, 我承認在這一方面我做的不夠好.  這些年來, 我越來越深信, 講鼓勵的話可以激發人善用他們的長處, 越做越好.  這使我想起一則記在芝加哥論壇報的故事. 戴茂清是個專業作家. 他說他的童年生長於伊利奈州的石山鎮. 他是極度缺乏安全感和害羞的一個人. 他沉默寡言, 又充滿了懼怕. 他通常都是獨來獨往的. 他沒有幾個朋友, 也完全沒有自信心.  他說有一次, 他的英語老師包洛姬夫人給他們全班一個功課, 要他們寫一篇文章. 戴茂清把功課做好交給老師. 當他的文章發回來的時候, 他看到包老師在上面寫了四個字: “寫的很好”. 戴茂清說, “在我讀到這幾個字以前, 我對自己甚是茫然, 也不知道自己何去何從. 讀過她的評語之後, 我就回家寫了一個短篇的故事, 這是我夢寐以求但卻從來沒有勇氣去做的一件事.” 三十多年之後, 戴茂清回到他的母校, 向包夫人表示他的謝意, 因為老師幾個鼓勵的字改變了他的一生.  聖經說, “又要彼此相顧, 激發愛心, 勉勵行善.” (來10:24)