Purposeful Encouragment

Purposeful encouragement. How many of us live our lives purposefully encouraging others? Choosing to go out of our way to make someone’s life a little easier?

Yesterday I wrote a Facebook status about this topic, but I want to expand on it. I cannot stop thinking about how purposeful encouragement can change lives.

Recently, I was on the phone with a customer service representative from my phone company. My phone and my Internet had both gone down, so I had called in to see what was the matter. Throughout the course of our 30-minute conversation, the gentleman on the other end of the phone thanked me five times for being nice to him. Five. In all truthfulness, I wasn’t being overly nice, I was just being myself. However, I had learned something long before this call: it is rarely the fault of the person on the other end of the phone call that you are having difficulties. They are just doing their job to the best of their ability, and the job is a lot easier and more enjoyable if they are not getting yelled at every time they answer the phone. The customer service representative finally asked me why I was so different than the other callers. I told him the one thing that I could. I have Jesus in my life.

Jesus. Now there is a purposeful encourager if you ever did see one. That man encouraged others even as he was dying. As he was dying, y’all. There he was, hanging on a cross, bleeding, struggling to breathe, encouraging and comforting the thief on the cross.

This realization sunk in a few years back. I figured if Jesus could encourage others in his last breaths, surely I could encourage people around me as well. Even when I do not feel very well, I can still encourage others. Even if I am busy, I can encourage others. Even if I am low on funds, I can encourage others.

So many people suffer in silence. So many people need our love. Those that are ill…those that are watching a loved one die…those that lost their job…those that have lost a relationship…those that were recently diagnosed with a disease…those that have just recently become parents…those that have just moved to a new house/neighborhood/job/school/church…those that are headed out to the mission field….those that think they haven’t a friend in the world. They all need encouragement.

Make homemade soup or a meal to those that are ill or just had surgery. Sit with and listen to those that need to process their thoughts and feelings about the loss of a loved one. Gift a recently unemployed family some food, the money for the electric bill, or supper at your home as a night out. When JP lost his job during the mass layoffs several years ago, a family from our church gave us a huge box of food. Another family came to visit us. It was so encouraging to know we were not alone.

Listen as your friend cries over the loss of a relationship with a significant other. Let them know that they are still desirable and loved.

 Volunteer to hold the new baby while the new mom takes a shower, naps, or gets caught up on laundry. Vocalize how wonderful it is to hear the newborn mewlings of an infant during the worship service at your church. When Little Bug was a few weeks old, a sweet friend came over and held Little Bug while I showered, fed and watered the animals, and cleaned up the house a bit. It felt wonderful to know that Little Bug was being taken care of, and that I was able to do a few things that needed to be done. I used to leave the sanctuary whenever Little Bug would start to cry. However, one day, an elderly lady from our church came up to me and told me how Little Bug’s little cries were like music to her ears, and thanked me for still coming to church even though she knew how difficult it must be to get out the door and to the church as a new mom. Those words stayed with me, and I now tell others those same, true words.

Welcome those that are new to a situation. Introduce them to others and make sure they know their way around. Give to those that venture out on missions trips, whether young or old, whether $1 or $100. The encouragement is endless. Once, JP and I were going on a missions trip to Russia. A nine-year-old girl from our church heard our presentation about it at church, went home, emptied her piggy bank, and gave the entire contents towards missions. That was the most absolutely encouraging thing that could of happened for JP and I before leaving to share the Gospel to others.

Send a card. Pick up the phone. Smile at every single person you see. So many times in my life, a smile makes all the difference. Usually people do a double take when they see me smile. First they look around to see if I am smiling at someone near them. Then they look again to see if I am really smiling at them. I then am usually rewarded with a beautiful smile back. A smile is free, and can change everything.

Write thank you notes. Not only for gifts that you have received, but for a job well done as well. Last year, Little Bug and I went on a fieldtrip to Chicago. Our long line of busses had to weave in and out of very busy streets. Our bus driver did an amazing job of calmly and safely navigating through areas with mere inches on either side of the bus. I wrote him  a thank you note. It took less than 30 seconds of my time, but I wanted him to know how much a I appreciated him. I heard later that he showed that note to everyone in the bus garage. A little encouragement can go a long way.

Encourage the teachers in your life. So many rules are being brought down on teachers, that they are having a hard time feeling like they are successfully educating our little ones. If you have the time, volunteer in your school. Not only does this encourage the teacher, the students get extra help that they desperately need.

Encourage those that feel they have no one. Let others know that you care and that you love them right where they are, no change needed. Let them see in you a person that truly in interested in them. So many people just need to know that someone cares. Once they have this knowledge, they are able to successfully navigate through life.

Take the time to share in others' burdens. To lift up and edify others. To let God's love shine through you. Just look around you...everyone needs someone. I challenge you to be that someone.  To become a purposeful encourager.

 

~Annie

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