I am coming to the end of a pretty big season in my life. When this happens, I become a little emotional and extremely nostalgic. When I become emotional and nostalgic, I begin to think through what has made this life so very enjoyable. This time? The answer is encouragement.
Lately I have found myself thinking a lot about the people who have, unknowingly, offered the richest encouragement to my heart during this season of my life. One thing everyone has had in common is that they did not intentionally attempt to encourage me. They simply offered their support and friendship. Some of them are the dearest of my friends, some are quickly becoming great friends, and others are people who I have just had a few conversations with. But they still hold the common thread of encouraging by being who God made them to be. They are the ones who daily live out the love of Christ. Simple actions have blessed me the most. Actions such as...
- Text messages telling me to have a great day.
- Consistently checking up to see if I need anything.
- Remembrances of my love for rainy days.
- Unexpected offers of Iced Coffees.
- Unexpected GIFTS of Iced Coffees when I desperately needed to smile.
- Handwritten notes of encouragement. (These are my all time favorite)
- Consistent tips in the coffee shop. Your weekly $1 means more than you may never know.
- A single daffodil picked for no reason.
- Affirmation of prayers being sent for me.
- Scribbled crayon letters on bright colored cards.
- Making me laugh until my stomach hurts.
- Making me chuckle even just a little bit.
- Even attempting to make me smile makes me smile.
- Smiles from across the room.
- Perfectly packed lunches with all my favorites.
- Choosing to spend time with me despite my craziness.
- Choosing to spend time with me even when I just need to sit in silence.
- Putting up with my unmade bed.
- Simple reminders of the grace of God.
- A young family playing games in a public place while teaching tiny hearts to love others.
- Worship centered evenings unifying the Body of Christ.
- Messages of truth from those around me.
- Worrying family members that really just tell me they love me.
- Authentic conversations.
- Authentic questions.
- Forcing me to give authentic answers.
- Serving right beside me in any capacity.
These are just some things that continually encourage my heart. These are just some things that have carried me through this season of my life. These are just some things that I want to recreate and give to others.
I have found it to be true that I give encouragement in the ways I am encouraged. I have also found it to be true that the greatest encouragement comes when people encourage me in these ways...yet they are not the ways that encourage those people.
So, as I close out this season, I am challenging myself to encourage greatly. I am challenging myself to encourage others how I think I can encourage them..but also to seek how they feel most encouraged.
Lately I have found myself thinking a lot about the people who have, unknowingly, offered the richest encouragement to my heart during this season of my life. One thing everyone has had in common is that they did not intentionally attempt to encourage me. They simply offered their support and friendship. Some of them are the dearest of my friends, some are quickly becoming great friends, and others are people who I have just had a few conversations with. But they still hold the common thread of encouraging by being who God made them to be. They are the ones who daily live out the love of Christ. Simple actions have blessed me the most. Actions such as...
- Text messages telling me to have a great day.
- Consistently checking up to see if I need anything.
- Remembrances of my love for rainy days.
- Unexpected offers of Iced Coffees.
- Unexpected GIFTS of Iced Coffees when I desperately needed to smile.
- Handwritten notes of encouragement. (These are my all time favorite)
- Consistent tips in the coffee shop. Your weekly $1 means more than you may never know.
- A single daffodil picked for no reason.
- Affirmation of prayers being sent for me.
- Scribbled crayon letters on bright colored cards.
- Making me laugh until my stomach hurts.
- Making me chuckle even just a little bit.
- Even attempting to make me smile makes me smile.
- Smiles from across the room.
- Perfectly packed lunches with all my favorites.
- Choosing to spend time with me despite my craziness.
- Choosing to spend time with me even when I just need to sit in silence.
- Putting up with my unmade bed.
- Simple reminders of the grace of God.
- A young family playing games in a public place while teaching tiny hearts to love others.
- Worship centered evenings unifying the Body of Christ.
- Messages of truth from those around me.
- Worrying family members that really just tell me they love me.
- Authentic conversations.
- Authentic questions.
- Forcing me to give authentic answers.
- Serving right beside me in any capacity.
These are just some things that continually encourage my heart. These are just some things that have carried me through this season of my life. These are just some things that I want to recreate and give to others.
I have found it to be true that I give encouragement in the ways I am encouraged. I have also found it to be true that the greatest encouragement comes when people encourage me in these ways...yet they are not the ways that encourage those people.
So, as I close out this season, I am challenging myself to encourage greatly. I am challenging myself to encourage others how I think I can encourage them..but also to seek how they feel most encouraged.