Over the last couple of years I have driven through tiny Port Barre (pronounced Barry), Louisiana, a number of times. In fact, I usually stop at one of the service stations for a cup of coffee or a bag of peanuts.

Port Barre is one of those great places in Louisiana filled with cajun accents and nice people.

The next time I go through Port Barre I think I will turn off the main highway (US 190) and really look at the town, especially Port Barre Elementary School.

Last week CBS News did a special report about Gabe Sonnier (Sone-yah, I told you it was cajun) the principal at the elementary school. Gabe Sonnier is a very likeable person, always grinning and always serving.

What makes this so interesting is that Mr. Sonnier, the principal started out at the school as Mr. Sonnier, the janitor.

His life changed when the principal of the school, Westley Jones, told Gabe Sonnier that he wanted him to quick picking up discarded homework papers and start grading homework papers.

That one conversation encouraged Gabe Sonnier to get his bachelor’s degree in teaching and to become a teacher. Now, he possesses a master’s degree in science and education and he’s the principal of the school. His ultimate goal? He’d like to be the superintendent.

Isn’t it amazing what one innocent comment can do in someone else’s life? For Gabe Sonnier, it propelled him toward a teaching career.

I wonder how many people we could help if we simply started looking for what people can be instead of what they are?

One of the most important people in history is a man the early followers of Jesus called Barnabas–a name meaning “encourager.” It was Barnabas who took the Apostle Paul under his mentorship when people doubted his conversion and questioned his motives.

Barnabas introduced Paul to the disciples and vouched for his genuine conversion. Later, Barnabas took Paul to Antioch of Syria to help Barnabas lead the church. Some Biblical scholars think of Barnabas as the pastor and Paul as his associate. After some years of leading the church at Antioch, God set Paul and Barnabas aside to take the gospel to the gentiles.

As they say, the rest is history. Saul the great persecutor became Paul the great missionary and evangelist.

When we listen to God and look for people to bless, we can make an eternal difference.

I encourage you today to encourage someone else. We have no idea what could come of such a small thing.

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