Atta-Boy!

My son asked me to go outside and play football with him the other day. Mind you, he’s 5. So football for him looks a lot safer for me now than it will in a few years.

We were throwing the ball back and forth, and he was loving every minute of it. I’d throw it as high as I could, and he’d watch it come crashing down to the ground and bounce strange directions. He’d mimic me and watch it bounce again.

He’d say, “Daddy…watch me!” And I’d watch him throw the ball up in the air and hear him squeal with delight that he did it.

Of course, when he would, I’d go nuts, making a big deal and encouraging him that he threw the ball.
Then one time, unintentionally, I didn’t encourage him. I didn’t tell him he did a good job. I watched him throw the ball, then walked over to pick it up and continue the cycle.
It’s not that he didn’t do a good job…I just didn’t tell him that he did.
And he asked me a question that caused me to stop mid-stride:

Dat cool, daddy?

He wanted to know if he was still doing it right. He wanted validation from someone who knew the ropes, and knew what a “good throw” was supposed to look and feel like. He wanted to hear from his dad that I thought what he was doing was cool.

Don’t we all have a bit of that longing inside of us?

We all want to be validated by someone who knows the ropes. By someone who’s been in our shoes and walked where we’re going. Who can shed a little light on our paths to make the journey a little more navigable.
Older leaders: we need your encouragement. We need your ‘atta-boy!’ We need your wisdom and insight. We need your gut-level response to our gut-level response.

Don’t give up on us. We need you.

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. – Hebrews 3:13

In our daily walks sometimes we can feel like we are doing all this on our own. In those moments we find our self frustrated and on the brink of giving up. We long to hear God's encouragement and the crazy thing is.... it's there. We just seem to miss it.

--We say: 'It's impossible' God says: All things are possible
(Luke 18:27)

  --We say: 'I'm too tired' God says: I will give you rest
(Matthew 11:28-30)

  --We say: 'Nobody really loves me' God says: I love you
(John 3:1 6 & John 3:34 )

  --We say: 'I can't go on' God says: My grace is sufficient
(II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)

  --We say: 'I can't figure things out' God says: I will direct your steps
(Proverbs 3:5- 6)

--We Say: 'I can't do it' God says: You can do all things
(Philippians 4:13)

--We Say: 'I'm not able' God says: I am able
(II Corinthians 9:8)

--We say: 'It's not worth it' God says: It will be worth it
(Roman 8:28 )

 --We say: 'I can't forgive myself' God says: I Forgive you
(I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)

 --We say: 'I can't manage' God says: I will supply all your needs
(Philippians 4:19)

 --We say: 'I'm afraid' God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear
(II Timothy 1:7)

 --We say: 'I'm always worried and frustrated' God says: Cast all your cares on ME
(I Peter 5:7)

 --We say: 'I'm not smart enough' God says: I give you wisdom
(I Corinthians 1:30)

 --We say: 'I feel all alone' God says: I will never leave you or forsake you
(Hebrews 13:5)

If you are a leader in any way. Don't miss the moments to invest in those under you. Don't miss the opportunities to encourage and strengthen your leaders. As little as that seems, it goes a long way. Today if your feeling like giving up, God's encouraging voice is there every single day that you need it. His word is filled with it, go ahead and dig in. The next time you feel like throwing in the towel, Open God's word and hear His still small voice saying "Atta-Boy!"