The Power of Encouragement

A Positive Word Can Change a Person's Life

Henry Ford and Thomas Edison were friends. Ford, since he was a child, looked up to Edison and ended up working for him as an engineer at the Edison Illuminating Company.

They officially appear to have met at a convention sponsored by Edison's company. Someone introduced Ford to Edison as, "There's a young fellow who has made a gas car."

Edison and Ford talked for some time and then Edison showed his approval and excitement about Ford's invention by banging his fist down on the table. "Young man," he said, "that's the thing! You have it! Your car is self contained and carries its own power plant."

Years later Ford said in a newspaper interview, "That bang on the table was worth worlds to me. No man up to then had given me any encouragement. I had hoped that I was headed right. Sometimes I knew that I was, sometimes I only wondered, but here, all at once and out of a clear sky, the greatest inventive genius in the world had given me complete approval. The man who knew most about electricity in the world had said that for the purpose, my gas motor was better than any electric motor could be."

Ford never would forgot those words of encouragement. It was enough to motivate him to continue to pursue his dream. May we never forget the power of encouragement and may we use it to build others up and motivate them to do great things.

"Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad." - Proverbs 12:25, NKJV