Just A Minute by Wess Stafford

"How long does it take to make a difference in the life of a child?

For good or for ill, individual moments in a young person's life can make all the difference in their future. It may be something said or done by an adult who hardly thinks about it: a hug, a compliment, an intriguing question, a sincere applause. But in that moment, the child discovers who they are, what is important to them, why they matter, and sometimes even what their destiny will be. Most of us want to help encourage and build into this next generation, most of us see the need all around, but we just have no idea where to begin."

I have long been thinking about graciousness of speech and how we speak to others. In our consumer driven society, we generally take as much as possible from others to build ourselves up. We dismiss the small and the needy. This book was a wake up call to the American heart. What if we took a moment to invest, encourage, or delight in a child and that moment changed the course of their destiny? Dr. Stafford gives many examples in story form about the countless people that have been touched by simple encounters that changed their lives. He shows us how, from famous theologians to men like Adolf Hitler, simple words can engrain hope or despair in us. We must be quiet more when we feel the need to criticize and complain and be vocal more when we see the need for building up. May we be known for our love. 

Dr. Stafford is the CEO and President of Compassion International.

This book was graciously provided for review by Moody publishers.

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