Word of Encouragement

Since this is “Super Bowl Weekend,” this week’s Word of Encouragement has to have a football connection.

But first, since many of these Words of Encouragement have featured stories that accentuate the theme that “little things can make a big difference” I have a question for you: Have you ever experienced a moment where you did something for someone, and then were surprised to learn later on that your simple act of kindness, support, or encouragement made a big difference in their lives?

What you did may not have been a “big deal” for you, but it was a big deal for someone else. Perhaps someone has done something for you and they aren’t aware of how their actions positively affected you.

If you can relate to the impact of those powerful moments, you’re going to love hearing from Andrew Whitworth, the NFL’s winner of the Walter Payton Man of the Year award. This award honors a player’s volunteer and charity work and their performance on the field. Andrew truly exemplifies that spirit.

Raised in Louisiana, Andrew plays for the Los Angeles Rams and is, at 40 years old, the oldest left tackle in NFL history. This Sunday, he will be protecting the Rams' quarterback, Matthew Stafford, as they take on the Cincinnati Bengals in the Super Bowl. Off the field, Andrew is committed to helping the less fortunate have an increased sense of security.

When Andrew meets you and asks “Where you at?” (the Cajun version of “How are you doing?”) it’s Andrew’s way of finding out where you are at as he enters your world. And when Andrew enters your world, get ready! You will be meeting an individual who has a mission to “love people, care about people and meet them where they are at”.

As I watched this video of Andrew’s acceptance speech, I was reminded of words from a mentor: “In life there are two kinds of people. Those who serve others and those who expect to be served by others." I would always approvingly nod and smile when I heard those words. But truth be told, there are those moments in my life where I like being served. Maybe there are those moments in your life as well.

But the good news is that there are examples that can inspire us and help us recognize the joy that comes from serving others. The video honoring Andrew had several such examples of Andrew and his family getting involved and taking actions that have lifted up and inspired others.

For example, Andrew shared a story about what happened when Derrick Barnes, who plays for the Detroit Lions, came running up to him after the Rams played the Lions. Derrick told Andrew “You’re not going to remember me. You spent time with me as a youngster at the Boys and Girls Club when you were a young player with the Bengals, and it meant the world to me. You used to sit with me and talk about life when I was just a little kid.” And then Derrick told Andrew: “I want you to know how much it meant to me”. And then he told Andrew: “I made it, I made it to the NFL, Big Whit.”

Andrew shared how this moment with Derrick affected him. He humbly noted that on a Tuesday afternoon during the season, when he could have been sitting at home relaxing, he chose to make an investment – and he didn’t even know he was making that investment. What is the lesson he took away from his encounter with Derrick? “None of us know when the moment will present itself (to serve others). The key is to always be available and when it does, keep investing and lead with your heart.”

Last year I shared one of my favorite poems, “I’d Rather See A Sermon” by Edgar Guest. The opening verse reads:

“I'd rather see a sermon than hear one any day;
I'd rather one should walk with me than merely tell the way.
The eye's a better pupil and more willing than the ear,
Fine counsel is confusing, but example's always clear;
And the best of all the preachers are the men who live their creeds,
For to see good put in action is what everybody needs.”

Andrew exemplifies this poem and the spirit of the words written in Philippians, “do not look to your own interests but the interests of others.”