Unexpected Praise

 

I stopped by Jersey Mike’s for lunch on last Friday’s work day.

As I stood in line to wait for my sandwich,

I heard the manager say,

“You guys just rocked that. 

That was so good. 

I know it was a lot at once. 

But you did it. 

And you rocked it.

And everything looked beautiful. 

I’m so proud of you guys!”

 

I’ve had the privilege of working for cheerleaders for the past many years. 

I feel appreciated by my boss and 

I’m thankful to work for someone who sees what I do and expresses his gratefulness on a regular basis. 

 

But not everyone can say that. 

 

In fact, I imagine that most people can’t. 

 

I think that’s why the Jersey MIke’s manager’s words 

Meant so much to me. 

She was genuinely proud of her team, 

She knew they were discouraged, 

So she shared her encouragement through praise. 

And even though the teenagers that she was working with didn’t really acknowledge her speech,

I think it meant a lot to them. 

How could it not? 

They had been seen and their time and efforts had been valued. 

And, after all, isn’t that what most of us deeply desire?

 

May this be a reminder that 

Words are powerful

And that sometimes they affect even the people they aren’t meant to reach.

 

May we use our words to build up and encourage

And when we see something good,

May we hold it in light and 

Celebrate the people involved in the goodness,

Especially when they may not often hear words of encouragement and praise. 

 

Amen.