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
If you would like to follow Homestead Annie of Facebook, simply click here.
