Honk for Your Family

In the late afternoon I love to go out into the backyard and wait for the geese to fly over.

Daily they travel from pond to pond in my area but as the sun goes down they always return

home to the marshy waterbeds located behind my house. The concert of a dozen or more geese

approaching grows louder and louder with each flap of their wings. I always smile long before I

can see them.

Unlike the familiar bark of a dog or meow of a cat, geese make this hysterically funny,

incredibly noisy, honking sound. They fly in a V-formation. They would appear important,

precise, and military without the shrill, honking sounds they make. Even my grandchildren cover

their ears and giggle when the geese fly over.

I learned a long time ago that animals can be great teachers. God created each species with

strengths and weaknesses, and we can learn great lessons as we observe and consider their

actions. The geese family is no exception.

In the book “Gung Ho,” authors Ken Blanchard and Sheldon Bowles spotlight the “gift of the

goose” as one of three key lessons business management can apply to increase productivity,

enthusiasm, and morale in the workplace. Every day that I see the geese flying over, hear them

honking, and see their unity I am encouraged.

Each year geese fly thousands of miles. They can travel hundreds of miles in a day by working

together and encouraging each other. The lead goose falls back after a period of time and the V-

formation reforms behind a new lead goose. This pattern of leadership repeats itself during the journey. From the first flight to final landing for the day, each goose in the flock honks

continuously, cheering his companions on. It isn’t just the lead goose doing the honking. They

are all honking! They are always encouraging one another to accomplish just a little more. The

team work is amazing.

Can you imagine what could be accomplished if we decided to become noisy cheerleaders –

encouragers – for our family members? Dad, Mom, and all the children would benefit as we

vocalize appreciation and encouragement at every level of accomplishment. Proverbs 12:25

NLT, validates this principle “Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a

person up.” This is the scripture I used when I launched into ministry and chose An Encouraging

Word with Ann Nunnally as the name I would be know by. My ministry goal has always been “to

encourage” with the truths of God’s word.

We spend great sums of money to attend sporting events where we cheer, scream and honk

“at-a-boys” to team members we only know through press releases. No one can deny the

momentum shift that occurs in a football game when spectators begin cheering and encouraging

with gusto. Huge Jumbotron screens declare “make some noise”! Players often motion to the

crowd, raising both hands, requesting verbal support. The crowd actually becomes part of the

team performance by clapping, cheering, and shouting. Can you imagine an empty stadium with

just coaches and players on the field trying to play the game? Our families need support and

daily encouragement while playing the game of life. It only cost a decision to apply these

principles of encouragement to your family. Don’t let them play on life’s field alone.

During the upcoming spring and summer months there will be ample opportunity to practice

“honking” for distant cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, parents, and siblings. When your

obnoxious cousin announces his new six-digit job offer, instead of being jealous, just “honk”

congratulations and see how much better you feel. When a younger sibling shows you a picture

they drew, instead of analyzing artistic ability and recommending color changes, “honk”

encouragement and tell them that the picture is so much better than you could do at their age!

When Aunt Bertha talks about how old she is, “honk” encouragement and tell her she’ll always

be young and beautiful in your eyes! It’s amazing but by “honking” for others, you will feel

encouraged too!

The distance your family travels spiritually, emotionally, and physically greatly depends on the encouragement, enthusiasm and energy generated by working as a team. Make it your mission to become like geese, always “honking” while the family is in flight.