Ten Ways to Encourage Children, Grandchildren, and Graduates
By Rebecca Barlow Jordan
They may be your children, your grandchildren, your friends, or your relatives. As graduates, they may qualify as “young” or “young-at-heart,” like Hazel Soares, a 94-year-old among the many graduates at Mills College several years ago, or 98-year-old Nola Ochs, who earned her master’s degree one year from Fort Hays State University. But they are all in need of your encouragement. Here are ten ways you can encourage them:
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Celebrate children, grandchildren, and the young-at-heart graduates! Believe in those who brave the world with untainted dreams and visions.
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Send the graduates out with prayers for peace, but guide them to the Prince of Peace.
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Feed children with contagious enthusiasm, but lead them to the Bread of Life.
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Give them all words of encouragement, but prepare them for the battles they will face. Guard them with protection until they can hide alone in the Rock.
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Pray for children, grandchildren, graduates, and the young at heart. Ask God to fill them with wisdom, and then introduce them to the Living Water who will always quench their thirst.
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Remember to applaud their successes and grieve their defeats.
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Cushion the sorrows of children, grandchildren, and graduates, but show them the Counselor who alone can heal their hearts. Let them face difficulty, but teach them how to be overcomers.
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Point children, the grandchildren, graduates, and the young-at-heart to the Truth that they might desire integrity.
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Lead them all with gentleness to the Comforter who will help them embrace the hurts of others.
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Help children, grandchildren, and graduates to believe in themselves and the One who makes all things possible. Love them sincerely, and then leave them confidently in the Master’s care.
Let us encourage one another (Hebrews 10:25 NIV).
Who are you encouraging today?
