Let me introduce you to the concept of Five Minute Friday. Every Friday (well, at least MOST Fridays) Kate gives word prompt, and bloggers from all over the place, take five minutes, normally on a Friday *but sometimes on Saturday*, to write on that word prompt.
The rules are simple.
Write for five minutes.
Link up.
Encourage those who have linked up before you.
I find it fascinating at the different twists a single word can mean to different people.
This week the word is CHEER. I do hope you'll join us.
The rules are simple.
Write for five minutes.
Link up.
Encourage those who have linked up before you.
I find it fascinating at the different twists a single word can mean to different people.
This week the word is CHEER. I do hope you'll join us.
"A cheerful heart is good medicine, Good medicine a cheerful heart!" this ditty often runs through my head.
But it sums it up doesn't it?
Cheerfulness. it does a body good.
So when I think of "cheer" I think of my lad, who when he completes a task that HE is pleased will ask over and over what I or his dad think. Then one sees this little smile, not a puffed up smile, but a "my heart is glad smile".
Which causes me to think back to a conversation I had with a mom a couple years ago. I had told my lad good job for something, nothing thinking of those around me, but of him and his immediate need for affirmation, and this mom commented "why on earth are you praising him for that?"
My response was "he did a good job, so why shouldn't I tell him so?"
The response I received surprised me. "I think it's best to reserve praise for things that truly deserve praise, and that didn't truly deserve praise, it was too little of a thing."
That comment has sat with me since, making me at times, to second guess myself. I can see the danger in praising a child, or anyone, too much. They can get a swelled-head and think too much of themself, but if a person has been struggling with something.. even a seemingly small thing... should they not be cheered in that "win"?
Is it not a good to thing to give cheerful medicine to a heart? I think so... the small things matter indeed.
But it sums it up doesn't it?
Cheerfulness. it does a body good.
So when I think of "cheer" I think of my lad, who when he completes a task that HE is pleased will ask over and over what I or his dad think. Then one sees this little smile, not a puffed up smile, but a "my heart is glad smile".
Which causes me to think back to a conversation I had with a mom a couple years ago. I had told my lad good job for something, nothing thinking of those around me, but of him and his immediate need for affirmation, and this mom commented "why on earth are you praising him for that?"
My response was "he did a good job, so why shouldn't I tell him so?"
The response I received surprised me. "I think it's best to reserve praise for things that truly deserve praise, and that didn't truly deserve praise, it was too little of a thing."
That comment has sat with me since, making me at times, to second guess myself. I can see the danger in praising a child, or anyone, too much. They can get a swelled-head and think too much of themself, but if a person has been struggling with something.. even a seemingly small thing... should they not be cheered in that "win"?
Is it not a good to thing to give cheerful medicine to a heart? I think so... the small things matter indeed.
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