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Key Bible Verse: Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up (Romans 15:2).
Bonus Reading: Acts 15:22, 30-35

I almost flunked first grade. I was a terrible reader. We had three reading groups in my school. The highest group was the Owls. The Owls were in the trees above everybody else. The Giraffes ranked next, head and shoulders above us Humpty Dumptys. We were on the wall, off the wall—we just couldn't get it together. We struggled. My mom saw me coming home discouraged every day. She started reading with me every night.

I came home one day with a C on one of my papers, and gave it to her. She smiled and started to cry. She said, "Oh, Rodney, I'm so proud of you." She made my favorite dinner and let me stay up late. I'm thinking, Gee, if this is what a C will do! What do you think that did for me? It spurred me on to do my best. That's what encouragement does. It makes you want to move on when you feel like quitting.

I didn't make it to the Owls. I got to the Giraffes, and got out of first grade. Here I am. Today my mom introduces me, "This is my son"—she'll put her arm around me—"Doctor Cooper." Then she'll look at me and wink just to remind me from where I've come.

—Rodney Cooper in Preaching Today

"—a little boy

Adapted from Preaching Today (141).

Prayer for the Week

My Father, I pray for the gift of being a load-lifter this week.

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