Do you have a kid struggling in school? I wasn’t a very driven kid when it came to school. I wasn’t interested in filling my head with knowledge if I didn’t know why I needed it. I didn’t try all that hard, and, because of that, I didn’t get very good grades. That created a confidence issue that was debilitating. But, in 7th grade, my teacher, Mr. McKenzie, saw through my insecurity and said words of encouragement, giving me confidence. That first good grade was all I needed to change and gave me the inspiration I needed to learn the Gettysburg Address. Mom and Dad, we have the power to encourage or discourage our kids. We need to use encouraging words to inspire our kids intellectually but also spiritually. They need both. 

Suggested Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:11