He Made Me Feel like I Belonged

The man was on his way to the county fair.

He had a chicken in one hand, a pig under his other arm and a basket on his head. On the way he became lost. Just then a lady passed by. “Excuse me ma’am,” he said, “can you tell me how to get to the county fair?” She said, “I sure can. In fact I am going there myself, so we can walk together.”

She proceeded to tell him the direction they would walk. “Wait a minute,” interrupted the man. “Did you say we were going up this way a mile, then left for a mile and then left for about a half a mile?”

“That’s right,” she replied.

“Wouldn’t it be quicker if we just cut through the woods?”
The lady protested, “I can’t walk through the woods with you. You might try to hug me.” The man was stunned.

“How in the world could I hug you? I have a chicken in one hand, a pig under the other arm and a basket on my head?”

Without missing a beat the lady said, “You could put the chicken on the ground, put the basket over there and I could hold the little ole pig!”
Everybody needs a hug.

Even in the midst of social media connection, a sense of isolation plagues many in our day. A young boy returned home after the first day at his new school, obviously dejected. His mother asked, “What’s wrong son?” He answered, “I am the only one I know at school.” Many people feel this way.

Many people feel this way.

My favorite scene in the movie 42 The True Story of An American Legend was when Jackie Robinson made two glaring errors. The jeers and boos from the stands reached a high decibel level. But Pee Wee Reese, the incomparable Dodger shortstop, walked over to Robinson, put his arm around him, and gave him a word of encouragement. Jackie Robinson later reflected on that moment in his life. “That may have saved my career. Pee Wee made me feel like I belonged.” ( Dennis Waitley, The Double Win. 86-87)

Let me suggest 3 things you can do today to make someone feel like they belong.
1. Be careful not to use discouraging language. In a world of critical words, encouragement comes through positive words that build up.
2. Do not withhold good from others to whom it is due. Encouragement involves more than words. It includes action, as well.
3. Give them the good that is due them today. Don’t let good intentions replace encouraging action. Make the phone call, lend a hand, do it now.