Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Silver Boxes: The Gift of Encouragement

Rate this book
Humorous anecdotes and touching insights inspire readers to reach out with encouragement to people who are hurting and need help. Learn how to make others feel special, mend broken dreams and share the affirming message of the gospel through encouragement.

176 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1989

41 people are currently reading
319 people want to read

About the author

Florence Littauer

115 books60 followers
Florence Littauer is a Christian self-help author and public speaker. Littauer is best known for her series of books based upon the Personality Plus personality system. She was listed as one of Helen K. Hosier's "100 Christian Women Who Changed the Twentieth Century" and has received the National Speakers Association's Council of Peers Award for Excellence and has been designated by them as a Certified Speaking Professional.

--From Wikipedia

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
150 (47%)
4 stars
90 (28%)
3 stars
53 (16%)
2 stars
21 (6%)
1 star
4 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
Profile Image for Jo-Anne Puggioni.
12 reviews8 followers
October 31, 2011
This book was first introduced to my household when I was a teenager. My father was in Amway at the time, and this was on the recommended reading list.

Although this is written by a Christian author and my father wasn't a Christian, he loved this book. He was a natural encourager. When my father died suddenly in a road accident at age 49, we decided to surround him with silver boxes - symbols of the gift of encouragement.

It was a few years later when I entered into a relationship with God through His Son, that I picked this book up and read it. The author's passion for encouraging others, and the stories she shared of how words of encouragement can impact people's lives inspired me. Littauer's contagious passion made me see just how powerful a few words of encouragement can mean to a person.
The book is based on the scripture Ephesians 4:29:
Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
I have just started reading it again, to remind myself how the simple gift of encouragement can be like giving someone a silver box with a pretty bow on top.

http://www.princesswarriorlessons.com...
1 review
January 28, 2010
This book is an excellent reminder that we may never understand the profound impact words and actions have upon individuals. This author provides the opportunity to examine, if the words we utter and the deeds we preform in our daily transactions are "silver boxes" of encouragement to make those around us feel unique, special and empowered!
Profile Image for Carol.
399 reviews10 followers
January 5, 2015
I can't remember too much about this book except the image of the silver boxes and how good it feels to receive (and give) the gift of encouragement. Inside the front cover, I pasted a copy of the poem, "Don't Quit".

"When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low, and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit-
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Success is failure turned inside out,
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems afar.
So, stick to the fight when you're hardest hit-
It's when things go wrong that you mustn't quit."

Profile Image for Debra.
4 reviews
July 15, 2008
An absolutley wonderful book on the gift of encouraging words and how our words (both negative & positive) effect others for the better or the worse. A must read!!!
Profile Image for Kristen.
14 reviews1 follower
August 16, 2008
This book was given to me by my best friend at the time. I really loved the way it explained giving and recieving gifts of words in little silver boxes.
Profile Image for Melissa.
27 reviews
February 27, 2013
After reading this book I will always remember that my words should be like a gift with a bow on top. I read it a long time ago. I need to read again soon because I think I forgot the lesson.
Profile Image for Beez Beasley.
173 reviews6 followers
April 22, 2009
Vignettes of stories showing how "words" can build someone up or tear someone down...oftentimes when we aren't even aware. A book of encouragement. Be all you can be. Florence Littauer speaks before many Christian organizations; encouraging, challenging folks to be the best they can be; help in mending broken dreams.
41 reviews
September 15, 2007
want to help others and change the world, read this!
Profile Image for Kelli P..
15 reviews
April 23, 2008
This is a lovely book that reminds us that every word that comes out of our mouth is a gift and we should wrap it in silver boxes for the receiver. (say nice things to each other)
Profile Image for Lynda .
19 reviews1 follower
February 6, 2012
This is a wonderful book if you're interested in being reminded to always speak kindly and the effects of both positive and negative communication on you, your family and your community.

It is a little bit redundant, however I enjoyed the stories of the people who have taken the message of Silver Boxes and employed it in their own lives.
Profile Image for Sherri Williams.
Author 3 books6 followers
November 13, 2010
I really enjoyed this one. It was rather repetitive but the message is really wonderful.
84 reviews
February 1, 2013
Florence Littauer communicates the importance of choosing our words wisely in order to be encouragers, givers of silver boxes, treasures that last.
Profile Image for Gloria.
210 reviews6 followers
March 19, 2013
I loved this little book. It's full of positive ways to give and get affirmations from those around us. It's reminders of how we want to be.
Profile Image for Beverly Dowdell.
Author 2 books8 followers
October 12, 2014
To recognise those who are balcony people in my life was just as important as being reminded to succeed each day to be that person to others who pass through my day.
98 reviews
September 28, 2011
I bought this book because a friend of mine said it had a huge impact on her life. I probably wouldn't have completed it if it weren't recommended.

Great concept, but painfully repetitive. There were only a few pages written about "silver boxes" by the author. The rest of the book (about 90%) was composed of the author's retelling of things that happened to other people.

As a mother, I often wonder what memories my child will have of what I say that will shape what she does. Sometimes the wrong word or phrase can cut deep enough to discourage or hurt someone. It's amazing what memories we carry. This book is a reminder that the discouraging and encouraging things we say can shape a person for a lifetime.

Profile Image for Fayth Williams.
16 reviews2 followers
February 23, 2017
Words are powerful. They can heal or harm, build up a person or tear them down. Not a day goes by that I don't say or hear something and immediately think of this book and whether or not I'm giving out silver boxes or taking them away. This book has reminded me of many people in my life who have encouraged me and changed my life for the better. I've also recalled negative words that have hindered my growth and opinion of myself. I think the most difficult thing to understand is how not to let negative words influence how you live your life.
Everyone could benefit from reading this book. I'm going to strive to ask myself "is it edifying?" before I say anything to my family, friends, teachers, students, and anyone else I meet.
Profile Image for Heidi Morrell.
1,369 reviews16 followers
June 20, 2020
What a treasure this ! My daughters listened as I read this book aloud . Today we went through the personality profile . Shortly after we started this book , I made silver boxes for each of my daughters . We've also been reminding each other to use our words to build up , rather than tear down .
We read Galatians 5 today in between the strengths and weaknesses parts of the test . I wanted to emphasize that no matter what our weaknesses are now , by growing in the Lord and producing the Fruit of the Spirit , we can change those weak areas of our personalities . I'm still working on that myself . ...
Profile Image for Linda .
940 reviews
August 29, 2018
This is an older book. I've kept it on my shelf all these years, meaning that I liked it enough when I first read it that I wanted to re-read it at some point.

I don't know if I've changed, or what, but it didn't "hit me" like I remembered. The general premise is good -- to give out encouraging words to people. However, there are too many anecdotes and very little else.
Profile Image for Molly Christensen.
Author 1 book5 followers
January 29, 2015
This is a great book about the power of words, and the author has a wonderful spirit and is sharing a great message. Unfortunately, it's really just not that well-written. It's mainly a collection of random sharings. But I do love the message!
4 reviews
January 30, 2018
Just as good the second time around

I read this book in the mid eighties. It is such an inspiring book. I am reafing it agsin to use as the focus point for a Christian women's retreat.
Profile Image for Tricia .
266 reviews16 followers
March 14, 2019
I should have read “Practicing Affirmation” by Sam Crabtree because I was hoping for a book about how to speak encouragement to those around me. Instead this is a book about how the author gave seminars about encouraging others.
Profile Image for Sara.
43 reviews
February 26, 2008
A good feel book - but very repetitive. Was hoping it was going to make me more loving and encouraging but "you can't teach an old....." anyway, You get the point.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.