C is for Cheering Them On – Encouragement Fuels Growth
Read The Daily:
“This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” —Matthew 3:17
Post by Cassie McClellan
My group of friends uses the term “mom goggles” a lot when we talk about how we see things when it comes to our kids. It usually revolves around sports—how we perceive our kids being treated or how they’re performing. Most of the time, we’re not seeing the whole picture—we’re just focused on our own child. That’s why we need each other to put things into perspective and sometimes talk us down from going full-on “mama bear” (lol!).
But mom goggles aren’t all bad. I will cheer my kids on no matter what they’re doing, I am their biggest fan. My middle son could not care less about sports, but he always wants to sign up and play. Without fail, after every baseball game, he comes off the field and asks, “Did I do good, Mom?” And every time I say, “Of course! You did amazing!”—even if he struck out at every at-bat and spent most of the game picking dandelions in the outfield.
One of the most powerful moments in Scripture is when God speaks encouragement over Jesus at His baptism. What’s so incredible is that this declaration came before Jesus had performed a single miracle or taught a single crowd. God the Father affirmed Jesus’ identity—not His performance.
Our children need that same kind of encouragement. They need to hear, often and specifically, that they are loved, valued, and seen—not just for what they do, but for who they are. When we cheer them on, we plant seeds of strength that will grow for years to come.
Prayer for the Day
God what are you showing me? What am I going to do about it?
God help me to see one person that I can serve through a kind word, random act of kindness, or simple gift today?
Make sure you complete the reading or comment today.
Read The New Testament In A Year
In those days John the Baptist came to the Judean wilderness and began preaching. His message was, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” The prophet Isaiah was speaking about John when he said, “He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the LORD’s coming! Clear the road for him!’” John’s clothes were woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food he ate locusts and wild honey. People from Jerusalem and from all of Judea and all over the Jordan Valley went out to see and hear John. And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River. But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to watch him baptize, he denounced them. “You brood of snakes!” he exclaimed. “Who warned you to flee the coming wrath? Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire. “I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire.” Matthew 3:1-12
This letter is from Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, chosen by God to be an apostle and sent out to preach his Good News. God promised this Good News long ago through his prophets in the holy Scriptures. The Good News is about his Son. In his earthly life he was born into King David’s family line, and he was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord. Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority as apostles to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name. And you are included among those Gentiles who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ. I am writing to all of you in Rome who are loved by God and are called to be his own holy people. May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. Romans 1:1-7