We received an interesting article about my sister’s alma mater, UNI. It says “the University of Northern Iowa is now home to one of only three college-level ‘inclusive’ cheerleading squads in the nation. It features two boys and nine girls who love to cheer and are avid Panther fans and just happen to have disabilities ranging from Down syndrome to autism.

“The Sparkles send the message that anyone can be a cheerleader or do anything they put their mind to,” said Swanson, founder of the team.

The line, “anyone can be a cheerleader” struck me. I’ve never had any inclination to be on a sports cheerleader team. But I’ve learned how important ‘cheerleading’ is. I’ve commented before about how everyone faces hard battles and encouragement spurs us on. I mean, have you ever had too much encouragement? So it seems that cheerleading, a type of encouragement, is a much needed commodity.

I wonder when you put on your ‘sensitivity antennae’ to notice others around you, how many opportunities there are each and every day to encourage others. I had a mentor who taught me by example how easy and valuable it was to encourage others:
Catch someone doing something well and comment on it.
Compliment someone’s smile or helpful act.
Write a note of appreciation for someone’s talents.
Always write a short note or email thanking someone for their consideration of you.
Acknowledge people with a smile, or hug if appropriate.
Offer to pray with, not just for, someone who shares a heartache with you. Check back later to see how they are doing.

You get the idea. All encouragement costs is the intentional effort and desire to pay attention to others. As Paul said, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:3-4)

Probably none of us do this perfectly all the time; we all tend to get caught up in our own concerns. But all of us can encourage and cheer others on. You can forget the pom poms and special outfit. Just go light our world by being an intentional cheerleader for others. It might just be the pick-me-up YOU need!

“Let us encourage one another.” Hebrews 10:24-25