This post comes from my nine year old daughter, Cami. She is itching to have her own blog. Until then, I promised her a guest post here. Cami is a fourth grader and a fantastic sister. She loves reading and writing and just finished her debut on the stage with The Toledo Repertoire Theatre in A Christmas Carol.
As you might guess, she is one of my very favorite people on earth. This essay she wrote in school fits the theme of this blog and is also a great reminder for all of us. I typed this exactly as she wrote it, except that WordPress doesn’t draw Q like a cat face for Ramona Quimby. The only thing I added was paragraph breaks. I would be thrilled if you took a moment to leave her an encouraging comment. Thanks!
People should believe in themselves. If Beverly Cleary was afraid to show her books to people, no one could read about Ramona Quimby or Henry Huggins! If George Washington didn’t believe he could be president, then what?
You should encourage someone to believe in themself today.
Is someone you know afraid to do something? Tell them that they can do it. Say that if normal people can become famous authors (or actors or presidents), they can too.
Tomorrow, try to do the same thing. And the next day. And the next day. And the next day.
Try to do it for as long as you can. Encourage other people to encourage other people to encourage other people….. You can help encourage the world!
I know I will encourage other people. Will you?
photo credit Kiran Foster
I am the founder/CEO of the Weaving Influence team, the author of Reach: Creating the Biggest Possible Audience for Your Message, Book, or Cause, and the host of the Book Marketing Action Podcast. I’m a wife and mom of three kids, and I enjoy running, reading, writing, coffee, and dark chocolate.
Cami,
I am so glad that I took the time to read your blog post before I went to work today. Now I know that I have been given my marching orders for the day…to encourage someone else.
This is a great message for everyone, no matter who they are or what they do. Thanks for this wonderful reminder.
I bet you are a great big sister, a wonderful daughter and a special friend. I am looking forward to getting to meet you one day. I have the feeling that we will be saying, “I read her first blog entry when she was 9 years old and I knew she was going to do special things.”
Thanks for sharing this special entry with the rest of us and have a great day of encouraging others!
Hi Cami,
Today I would like to encourage you to keep writing…….Write something everyday, and if you do you may end up writing a whole book. Write about your feelings………..let people know what you think. Write about what the Lord is doing in your life and why you are different because you love and serve Jesus……….oh and write me another letter…….I love your letters. Great essay. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if everyone encouraged someone today? I will do it, I have joined your army of enccouragers. Do you know the song “Home on the Range”? Get your Mom to sing it for you……..It is taling about how wonderful it is to be a cowboy, and how beautiful it is to be free and riding your horse……One line says Where seldom is heard a discouraging word and the clouds are not cloudy all day…..Home, home on the range………..So there is another piece to be encouraging, and that is not be discouraging. So today I will be an encourager, and not a discourager.
Love and Kisses Your Nannie.
Cami, you are wise beyond your years. And here’s a thought for you: You don’t have to be a famous actor or author or the president to be great. Encouragers are some of the greatest and most important people in the world. I’m so glad you are one of them!
Cami, Great wisdom for such a young person. You are already encouraging so many people at such a young age. You are precious. Ginny
Cami,
You are really good at getting your point across. I love the approach you took to your introduction, and you are very right! We all have the ability to influence and encourage the world; so long as it becomes our lifestyle. You will make an excellent blogger.
Cami, thank you for your wonderful post! I felt encouraged by your positive, uplifting words! I think you’re well on your way to becoming an influential blogger like your mom!
I’m proud of you!
Great story Cami… so glad you.shared! I lift you up in Jesus Name!
This is amazing! She has wisdom beyond her years. This is one of the things I’m most passionate about. I love to call out the greatness in others, especially when they can’t yet see it. Thank you for sharing this.
Wise words, Cami! Thanks for sharing them with us. I am reading your post from Mexico! I used to LOVE to write when I was your age. Keep it up and hope to see more guest posts from you here soon.
Cami –
You hit the nail on the head.
People need to hear encouraging words over and over for those words to be effective and believable.
And you need to keep encouraging others far beyond the time it is interesting or rewarding for the same reason.
You capture that concept very well in this line:
“Tomorrow, try to do the same thing. And the next day. And the next day. And the next day.”
Because for those of us who want to make the world a better place, sometimes you get bored or tired of working on it over and over.
But that’s indeed what it takes.
Very nice job! (And I will tell you the same thing tomorrow. And the next day…)
–sandy
Yes, Cami! The Bible says to encourage people as long as it’s called “today” so that we won’t grow hardened by the deceitfulness of sin!
Your post encourages me to keep doing that on every “today,” and I’m thankful to you! I’d hate to grow hardened by sin’s deceitfulness… And evidently, if we get deceived into thinking that “my little encouragement” doesn’t count, then I’ve been tricked.
Thanks for reminding me that everyone needs encouragement, and I can be the person to do it!
And if you keep writing great things like this, Mom’s gonna let ya have a blog before ya know it!
Go Cami!
Cami, encouraging other people with words of belief & kindness is one of the best gifts that we can give to others. It’s like Christmas every day when we encourage someone. When we tell someone that we believe in them, we become like the wind under a kite. The kite has the power to soar because the wind lifts it up. Our words have that power too.
We definitely should encourage people every day. Thank you for sharing!
Hello Cami,
I was very impressed with the words of wisdsom that you shared with us about encouraging others. Your Mommy is very good at encouraging others with her writing and I am sure that she is very proud of you! I would love to see what else you have to say in the near future 🙂
Hi Cami – Just thought I would come back “the next day” and tell you again what a good job you did. Wow – when you make a commitment to follow through on encouraging someone, it is cool!
–sandy
Cami!
What a beautiful post. Looks like you have encouraged a lot of people including me.
My favorite part of your post:
“Try to do it for as long as you can. Encourage other people to encourage other people to encourage other people…. You can help encourage the world!”
That is my mission in life… to get the world Ready to Feedback and I know it will encourage the world. Your reminder to keep working at it was just what I needed to know that my actions make a difference and that I must continue!
Thank you, Cami!
Sonia
First of all, Happy Birthday Cami!! Secondly, I really appreciate the wisdom of your post and the fact that you wrote it so honestly and simply (I think a lot of writers tend to overcomplicate things). It’s an important principle to remember. Now I’m off to find someone to encourage!
Happy Birthday Cami!
You are a great writer! What do you think I liked most about your post?
I will give you a hint: my blog is http://www.leadingwithquestions.com
Does that hint help?
YES! You asked three great questions in your post, didn’t you?
Cami, I have another question for you: Would you please consider writing a “Guest Post” for my blog, sharing some of your favorite questions, perhaps along with the stories of how you discovered those questions or stories of how others have responded when you have asked them these questions?
Two more questions:
How are you celebrating your birthday?
If you could do one thing during your coming year that you have never done before, what would it be?
bob.tiede@ccci.org
Happy Birthday, Cami – I think your words ring just as true today as when you first posted. What I particularly like about your post is that you explain the importance of encouragement, and then ask people to do it today…and tomorrow…and the next day, etc. There is great wisdom in making something a habit and the best way to do it is day by day. Thanks, I hope you have your own blog sooner rather than later!
Cami
Well done. The world needs more encouragement, thanks for the reminder. I will look for more opportunities to encourage others because of your writing. Thank you! j
Cami. What a delightful blog. You are indeed a special young lady. You are a blessing to your family.And I know you encourage your sisters and my granddaughter Macy.,Have a great day.
Happy Birthday, Cami! What a great message! My favorite line…”You can help encourage the world!” It is so true that one person can make a difference. I wonder how different this world would be if every person took the time every day to encourage someone rather than tear someone down.
I hope your day is great! Mine is better for having read this post!
Great post Cami and a very happy and special birthday wish to you! Thank you for the reminder to encourage other people to greatness! You are right, with enough encouragement we can change the world. We never know the tremendous potential inside those we meet, who with only a little encouragement, could release that potential to do amazing things!
Happy Birthday, Cami! The date you published this, December 9th, is my birthday! Your post made me think about all the people who have encouraged me, and I am thankful for them. It also made me think about how to be a good mom to my daughter and how to encourage her to do even the littlest things. Thanks for reminding me that encouragement is constant, and I think that when we give it to others, it ends up encouraging ourselves as well!
Happy birthday to you, Cami! I love what you wrote here and am so impressed that you were just 9 years old when you wrote it! I got so much encouragement from reading it. And, I can tell that you are a very, very good friend to yourself and to others in your life. You are at a wonderful time in your life — and I hope you will continue to share your good ideas and your good self with the world. Happy birthday!
Happy Happy Birthday Cami! I hope you enjoy your incredibly special day with your precious family! I am impressed with your guest post on your mom’s Blog and the wisdom you shared at such a young age. You write beautifully. I see a great future for you in whatever you choose to do. People who encourage make a lasting impact on lives which is so important. Those who have touched mine with encouragement will forever be remembered and I hope that I have offered, and continue to offer, those uplifting feelings to others as well.
Warmest wishes and much love to you!
Cami,
Your blog post put a huge smile on my face. And I will most definitely look for someone to encourage today.
Dear Cami,
First, the happiest of birthdays to you!
Second, I used to teach 4th grade for many years, and can tell you that I would have given this an “A!”
Third, the phrase that spoke to my heart was, “if normal people can become famous authors (or actors or presidents), they can too.” This is a very inspiring and encouraging message. God uses “normal” people every day to accomplish spectacular things.
I can tell by your writing that the Lord has great plans for you, Cami. May He bless you with the richness of His encouragement every day.
Cami, I hope this is your happiest birthday so far! What a special young lady you are. I try to encourage everyone and am thankful for the reminder. Hugs to you and your family, Mrs. Lanham
Cami,
Absolutely loved your post….it put a smile on my face. Your so right, if George Whashington or Beverly Cleary could do it, then you could too. Awesome reminder.
Also……HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!! I hope you enjoy every moment of your day!