In a class of second graders, the teacher noticed a usually cheerful student who seemed to be downcast. She walked over to the child and asked him why he looked so sad. He paused for a moment; then, looking up at her with tears in his eyes, he explained, “I didn’t get my WOW.” It took the teacher a moment to understand. But then she realized what he had meant. Her aide corrected the spelling workbooks each day, and if a student got all of the answers correct on a page, she would write “Wow!” at the top, next to the score. The teacher then asked him to bring over his workbook. She turned to the assigned page and wrote “Wow!” next to the 100. She added a sticker for good measure. 

Acknowledgement of a job well done often motivates us to keep going. When our efforts are recognized, we feel loved, valued, and appreciated. Yet, do we remember to acknowledge the accomplishments of others? The Lord exhorts us to look around and find those who are in need of a genuine “wow.” Hebrews 3:13 (NIV) reminds us to “…encourage one another daily, as long as it is called ‘Today.’”