The Power of a Cheerleader
Monday, March 16, 2026
Category:
Why the World Needs People Who Lift Others
Why This Message Matters Today
Today is a special day.
Some days carry a little more meaning than others, and this is one of those days for me. Today marks the birthday of a remarkable young woman who happens to be a cheerleader. Watching the way she lives her life has helped me understand something important about what cheerleading really means.
It is not just about standing on the sidelines of a game. It is about standing beside people in life and helping them believe they matter.
There are individuals who seem to naturally notice when someone else needs encouragement. They lift spirits, help people smile, and remind others that they belong. The young woman whose birthday falls today has that rare gift. She has a way of bringing light into a room and helping the people around her feel valued and important.
As I reflected on her example, the message shared in General Conference about cheering each other on came to mind. The principles in that message describe exactly the kind of influence she quietly has on others. She embodies the kind of encouragement and kindness that strengthens people when they need it most.
If it were possible to say it directly, I would simply say this: there are people who see the good she is doing, and there are people cheering for her.
Sometimes life places distance between people who care about each other, but distance does not silence gratitude. From afar, it is still possible to recognize goodness, to admire it, and to celebrate it.
And today feels like the right day to celebrate a young woman who is doing something wonderful with the gifts she has been given—lifting others, helping them smile, and reminding people around her that they matter.
So this reflection on cheerleaders and encouragement is written with one person especially in mind.
Because the world always needs more people who know how to cheer others on.
The Race That Every Person Is Running
In an October General Conference message titled "Cheering Each Other On," Sister J. Anette Dennis shared a story that illustrates something powerful about human dignity.
At the USA Masters Track and Field National Championship, a 100-year-old man named Orville Rogers competed in the 1,500-meter race.
When the starting gun fired, the runners took off quickly, and Orville immediately fell far behind. One by one the other runners finished, until only he remained on the track.
Two and a half laps still stretched before him.
Nearly 3,000 spectators watched quietly as he shuffled forward alone.
But something remarkable happened when he began his final lap.
The crowd stood to their feet.
They began cheering.
The applause grew louder and louder until the entire stadium roared encouragement as he approached the finish line. Drawing strength from their voices, Orville pushed forward with the last of his energy and crossed the line.
Though he finished last, something extraordinary had taken place.
Because he was running in the 100-plus age division, he had actually broken five world records that day.
No one in the crowd had known that.
And none of them were qualified to judge his performance.
Only the race officials understood the full context of his effort.
Why Encouragement Matters More Than Judgment
Sister Dennis used this moment to teach a profound truth about life.
Every person is running a race.
But no one else fully understands the degree of difficulty that another person is facing.
Some are carrying wounds from the past.Some are battling quiet fears or depression.Some feel like they don’t belong anywhere.Others are doing their best simply to show up.
And yet, from the outside, people are often quick to judge.
But heaven sees something different.
As Sister Dennis reminded:
“Only the Lord fully knows our individual limitations and capacity, and because of that, He is the only one fully qualified to judge our performance.”
The spectators in that stadium unknowingly demonstrated something sacred.
They chose encouragement instead of criticism.
They chose celebration instead of comparison.
They chose to cheer someone on.
The Gospel of Encouragement
The Savior taught that love for others is the identifying mark of His disciples.
In the Gospel of John we read:
“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
— John 13:35
President Russell M. Nelson has also taught that charity is the defining characteristic of a true follower of Jesus Christ.
Real disciples lift.
They strengthen.
They encourage.
They cheer others on.
Not just when someone wins—but when someone simply keeps going.
The Quiet Influence of a Cheerleader
There is something deeply symbolic about cheerleading.
A cheerleader doesn’t score the touchdown.
They don’t shoot the winning basket.
They don’t cross the finish line.
Instead, they stand nearby and remind everyone on the field that they are capable of more than they think.
That kind of influence can change the outcome of a game.
And sometimes it changes the outcome of a life.
Some young people seem to understand this instinctively.
They sense when someone needs encouragement.
They notice when someone feels left out.
They create energy that makes others feel welcome, valued, and seen.
And that is a rare kind of strength.
The Kind of Community the Savior Envisioned
Sister Dennis described what our homes, congregations, and communities can become when people adopt this mindset.
They become places where people cheer each other on.
Places where:
- The struggling are supported
- The lonely are welcomed
- The discouraged are lifted
- The imperfect are given space to grow
This is how Zion begins to take shape—not through perfection, but through love.
It is what the Savior meant when He taught the Golden Rule:
“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
When people live that principle, the world becomes less like a competition and more like a team.
Some Races Are Harder Than Others
One of the most compassionate insights from Sister Dennis’s message is this:
Not everyone is running the same race.
Some are carrying burdens that others cannot see.
Some have been wounded in ways that slow their pace.
Some feel like they are far behind everyone else.
But heaven measures differently.
The Lord understands every hidden struggle and every quiet act of courage.
And He sees the effort behind each step.
Someone who feels like they are barely moving forward might actually be breaking symbolic world records in faith, endurance, and perseverance.
The Kind of People the World Needs
In a noisy world full of critics, the people who lift others stand out.
They bring light.
They bring warmth.
They bring hope.
They remind people that finishing the race matters more than winning it.
The spectators who cheered for Orville Rogers likely forgot about the other runners within a few hours.
But they would never forget the moment when thousands of voices united to encourage a man who simply refused to quit.
That moment revealed something beautiful about human nature.
People are capable of becoming each other’s strength.
A Word to the Cheerleaders
There are people in every community who may never hold the spotlight but who quietly lift others day after day.
They encourage.
They listen.
They celebrate the victories of others.
They bring energy and warmth into difficult moments.
If you are one of those people—someone who cheers from the sidelines more often than you stand in the center of the field—please know that your influence matters more than you may realize.
Encouragement changes lives.
A kind word can help someone finish a race they were ready to quit.
A smile can remind someone they are not alone.
And sometimes the person who keeps going in life does so because someone nearby believed in them.
The world needs more cheerleaders like that.
So if you are one of them, keep going.
Keep lifting.
Keep encouraging.
You are doing more good than you may ever fully see.
Gratefully,
Scott Alan Westhoff
Create A Great Day.
Hi, I Am Scott Alan Westhoff
Welcome to Becoming Better Every Day
I’m Scott Alan Westhoff, and this blog is where I share my ongoing journey of personal growth. Over the years, I’ve learned that self-improvement isn’t about perfection—it’s about presence. It’s about slowing down, reflecting, and growing through the lessons life keeps offering.
Here you’ll find short reflections, honest stories, and practical tools that help me cultivate more patience, purpose, and peace—one day at a time. My hope is that what I’m learning can help you on your journey too, as we both keep becoming a little better every day.
FREE DOWNLOAD FOR CHRISTIAN MEN
Are You Driven — Or Are You Drifting?
Most men don't drift on purpose. It happens one "good enough" day at a time.
This free checklist tells you the truth about where you actually stand — in 60 seconds.
