Eli loved to draw. His notebooks were filled with doodles of superheroes, colorful creatures, and entire worlds that only his imagination could create. But he rarely showed his art to anyone. He worried people would think it wasn’t good enough.
One afternoon, his older cousin Maya came to visit. While Eli was outside grabbing a snack, Maya spotted his sketchbook left open on the couch. Her eyes widened; she couldn’t believe how talented he was.
When Eli returned and saw her holding the book, his heart nearly jumped out of his chest.
“I’m sorry!” he blurted out, reaching to snatch it away. “They’re not very good.”
Maya pulled the book gently to her chest and said, “Eli, these are amazing. You created all this? I think you have something really special.”
Eli blinked, unsure if she meant it. “You really think so?”
“I know so,” she said without hesitation. “Have you ever thought about entering the school art show?”
Eli shook his head quickly. “No way. I’d mess up. People would laugh.”
Maya knelt so she was eye-level with him. “Eli, sometimes the only difference between someone who shines and someone who hides… is a little encouragement. I believe you can do this, but the most important thing is that you believe it too.”
Her words curled into his heart like a warm blanket.
That evening, Eli sat at his desk with a blank page in front of him. Maya’s voice echoed in his mind:
I believe you can do this.
So he started to draw. Slowly at first… then faster as the excitement returned. By the time he finished, he had created a proud lion standing on a cliff, full of color and bravery.
He entered the art show.
On the day of the exhibition, Eli walked through the gallery nervously. Kids pointed at his piece, some even smiled and whispered how cool it looked. When the judges announced the winners, Eli didn’t hear his name called for first place, or even second.
But then a teacher came up to him and said, “Your artwork inspired so many students today. You should feel very proud.”
Maya appeared behind him, giving his shoulder a gentle squeeze. “See what a little courage and a little encouragement can do?”
Eli grinned, cheeks warm with pride. He knew then that his notebook would never stay closed again.
And that’s the beauty of encouragement, dear friend:
It doesn’t take much.
Just a kind observation.
A sincere belief.
A few words that say, “You’ve got this.”
But those simple words?
They can light up someone’s world…
and help them rise higher than they ever imagined. ❤️