A friend of mine needed some encouragement today.
My husband needed some encouragement today.
Our oldest son needed some encouragement today.
My friend has been in hospital and just got home today so she needed something to make her smile even though she is still in some pain.
My husband is just starting to get rid of his cold but has a pile of work to do so he just needed a few things to help take his mind off the work deadlines and relax more.
Our son has been ill in bed in his apartment for the last two days so he needed to phone us and have a little chat just for the company and a little moan about the person in the apartment below him who had music playing most of the night even though he was out working a night shift.
If Jonathan were here with us I would be making homemade soup for him - he always likes that and I would probably sit down and watch a Poirot or Lewis DVD with him (we both love detective stories), but he's in a different country so we just have a chat on the phone.
My friend Amanda is often on facebook so posting a video of one of her favourite songs, then later some greetings there and a bit of teasing will hopefully have helped to make her feel loved and cared for.
These are just some of the little everyday types of things that we do to encourage people and help them along when things are a bit difficult and sometimes we don't even feel like we have made any great effort to do them.
Then the phone rang after 5pm and all I had to do was lift it and greet another friend and then just let them talk about a certain thing that is on their mind. I needed to say very little but just with a caring attitude and maybe more importantly I was willing to sit and listen to their concerns about a relative.
Yes sometimes all we have to do is be the person that listens.
We don't need to have answers, just listen.
Why?
Because only people who really care will be ready to listen and one of the greatest needs someone can have is to know someone cares about them;
someone cares enough just to let them talk.
This is someone who loves them.
This is what happens when we are obedient to God's Word.
someone cares enough just to let them talk.
This is someone who loves them.
This is what happens when we are obedient to God's Word.
Little did I know that I was going to need some encouragement today as well.
I never imagined that I was going to have someone make accusations about me and two other people today that were untrue and get so annoyed at us that they had to apologise for swearing online.
All because we didn't want other people to feel inferior or unappreciated.
What did I need then?
To know that there were other people who would listen to how I felt and would care about the situation.
Where did I get that?
From two sources.
Another group of bloggers who are great encouragers.
Yes that's what they are.
They help when someone needs help, they tell each other when they have found a good blogging tip and they celebrate with someone who has achieved something they never thought they could manage to do.
And also from God.
He has told us He cares for us, He loves us, He wants good for us, He will comfort us, He will always be with us if we put our trust in Him.
I know He cares for me personally and He loves me personally, He wants good for me, He comforts me and He will never leave me.
I also know that if you have put your trust in Him you will be able to say exactly the same things.
So take heart today and if you are in need of encouragement then
say those same things to yourself
and
be encouraged by God.
say those same things to yourself
and
be encouraged by God.
And in case you would like to hear Amanda's favourite song I've got it here for you.
