Mom, can you put butter on my toast...please?

You have got to be kidding me. I always enjoy the fact when I can get some one on one time with any of my youth. The down side to it is finding out some of the things they do with the rest of their lives. Take yesterday for an example. We were continuing on with our flamingo fundraiser and I have one of my youth going with me and we begin talking about how she and her brother got in trouble in the morning before school (I even think that they had been grounded as a result). So we were talking about what was going on and why they do what they do. Was it their fault or was mom on the warpath. Well, after talking with her and hanging out with the rest of the family for awhile afterward, I had an answer. I don't think the problem was what they got in trouble for in the first place. Sure, they were arguing, wasting time, not listening, etc, but the real root of the issue was "encouragement."
Mom felt that the kids only complained about things, never had a positive word for her. That got us thinking. When we were kids, did we ever encourage our parents? You always hear that it is important for parents to encourage their kids, but you don't hear much about the other way. Now I know that being a parent can be a thankless job, but parents have feelings too. During one of our youth lessons one day I asked them if they ever thanked their parents. Not for the big stuff (cell phone, drum set, birthday presents, etc.) but for the fact that when they go to the fridge, there is food in there. Or when they go to do their homework and they turn on the lamp in their room the light comes on. These little everyday mundane things that make the world go round. I know that I did not do that. Sure I try to do it now, but can that make up for all those years that I took my parents for granted?
Encouragement is a gift. It is seldom given and it is valuable. God's Word tells us to do it "So encourage each other and build each other up..." (1 Thes. 5:11a). Take the time to give this gift. There is no monetary cost attached to it, you don't have to go out to the mall to get it and you don't have to get it gift wrapped. It does, however, require something from "you".
So don't be stingy. Give the gift of encouragement!