"A man has joy in an apt answer, and how delightful is a timely word!" (Proverbs 15:23) All of us need encouragement at times. We need people to believe in us, to help us pick up the pieces sometimes and go on, to provide us with greater determination in spite of the odds. When we encourage others we spur them on. We stimulate them and affirm them. Often we show appreciation to them. There is, of course, a difference between appreciation and affirmation. We appreciate what someone does, but we affirm who that person is. Appreciation can come and go because it's usually associated with something that someone accomplishes. Affirmation goes much deeper. It is directed to the person himself or herself. I don't care how influential or secure a person might appear to be, genuine encouragement never fails to help. Most of us need massive doses of it!