Just how important is positive emotional
support or a word that says “I believe in you”?
Consider this.
During WWII, a tactic used by the North
Korean army was to deprive American soldiers of emotional support. They accomplished this by sowing a spirit of “it’s
not my job” among the soldiers in their care.
One they broke through in this way, they could get the American boys to
turn on one another and abandon any spirit of comradery that formerly existed
among them. Once 40 men watched as 3 of
their prison mates were thrown out of their mud hut and left to die in the
elements. They said, “It’s not my job.”
Another tactic was to withhold a
supportive letter from home while delivering overdue bills from collection
agencies and letters of sad news, family break-up and illness.
This had a devastating effect. The prisoners had nothing for which to
live.
There is great value in a well-placed
word of hope, an affirming hand on one’s shoulder and an encouraging word of “you’re
going to make it; I believe in you, we’ll get through this together”.
“Positive” is the key word here.
P Michael
Biggs
Offering Up-Moments
One Moment at a Time