I remember a scene from several years ago when I was visiting my parents over the Christmas holiday. We were all talking as mom was preparing a meal. She began recounting an experience she and Dad had recently had at her school's Christmas party (she's a teacher). "Your dad jumped in there and started talking to people and making everybody laugh," she said. "He's just so good with people!"

At that moment, I glanced over at my father and saw the most beautiful look of pride and satisfaction on his face. His wife had just bragged on him ... in public ... to his own family.

I once heard that it is a good parenting technique to praise a child in public and correct him in private. This demonstrates respect for the child and builds his self-confidence in the presence of others. These ideas take root, too. As a teenager, I often overheard my mom telling others that I was so good with children ... that they were attracted to me like a magnet. Today I am heavily involved in children's ministry.

I think public praise is a good idea for husbands and wives, too. A mentor used to quote Proverbs 27:2: "Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips." He made the point that we should be generous with our praise and not hold back because much true encouragement flows from public praise.

And what better person to receive praise from than your husband or wife -- the person who knows you best. Last week, we picked up a copy of a book I wrote (my first one) at the Christian bookstore. My husband couldn't help but tell the salesperson that I wrote the book. Though I was slightly embarrassed by the attention, it felt so good to have my husband praise me.

Like Proverbs 31:28 says: "Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her." We often focus on being praiseworthy, but the praiser also possesses great power.