Encouragement - Do It Now

Sharing your appreciation for those you love - especially those who are serving God faithfully, is one of the greatest forms of encouragement available to anyone. It does require great wealth, a stellar education or an abundance of time to simply give a word of praise or kindness. I love the poem by Berton Braley entitled, "Do It Now." Braley was born in Wisconsin in 1882 and published his first literary piece when was just 11 years of age.

Dr. J. Mike Minnix
Editor

Do It Now

If with pleasure you are viewing
Any work a man is doing,
If you like him or your love him,
Tell him now;
Don't withhold your approbation
Till the parson makes oration,
And he lies with snowy lilies on his brow;

No matter how you shout it,
He won't really care about it;
He won't know how many teardrops you have shed;
If you think some praise is due him,
Now's the time to slip it to him,
For he cannot read his tombstone when he's dead.

More than fame and more than money,
Is the comment kind and sunny,
And the hearty, warm approval of a friend.
For it gives to life a savor,
And it makes you stronger, braver,
And it gives you heart and spirit to the end;

If he earns your praise - bestow it;
If you like him let him know it;
Let the words of true encouragement be said;
Do not wait till life is over
And he's underneath the clover,
For he cannot read his tombstone when he's dead

Author of Poem: Berton Braley