It is late Monday night, after Savannah's soccer practice. Practice was a blast! I'm telling you, I have the best group of kids and I am having so much fun with them. Sorry - that's not my point :)
After practice, a new dear friend, who is also a Mom of one of my soccer players, was very sweet and encouraging regarding my coaching. You see, I am not the best coach out there. I know wayyy more about playing sports with my hands than with my feet. But, I am trying and positive words just do SO much! Thank you, Laura!
Then, a Dad of one of the other children encouraged Savannah in her soccer playing. You see, Savannah is not the best player on the team, but that's ok with us. She doesn't score many goals, but that's ok with us, too. She really enjoys playing, so we enjoy letting her play.
But to see the look on her face after he said those kind words and to watch her glow, chatter and giggle all through WalMart getting groceries was absolutely priceless. My hunch is that next time she is on the field, she's going to step it up a notch. She was most definitely encouraged. Thank you, Dewayne!
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.
So, the question is: Who needs my encouraging words today?
And ... Who needs yours?
Hebrew 3:13
But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.
Be an encourager today!
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This is something that the Lord has showed me and taught me over the last few years. That to take time to smile, speak a kind word, or to notice something good about another really goes a long way in someone else's heart. It can be so easy to see the "wrong" or negative in others but so fullfilling to notice the positive and share it with them. I am trying to be sure I learn to do that with my girls each day. That should seem easy but can be hard when I am trying to keep up with everyone and all that they need. I can easily get sort of "functional" about everything just trying to get it all done and forget to noticed the good or be encouraging! Good remeinder for me for today. I need to make sure I don't forget to do this and to lose some of the functionalness to my day!
ReplyDeletePS I am going to pray and read these verses many times today as a reminder to myself to be encourageing to my girls today. I really am having a bit of trouble remembering to do this when I have so much to keep up with and feel behind on it all.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great reminder to me as well.
ReplyDeleteI go through periods where I seem to do very well at this and other times where I fail miserably. Reminds me how much I need God and how well he has laid things out in his word...if I just stay in it!
Thank you for sharing the verses. It is so helpful...you have encouraged me by your story. I love reading how you know you are not the best and nor is your daughter, but that doesn't matter...and you have a great time and have fun anyway. I seem to struggle with my imperfection at things and then am hard on myself. I try to be encouraging to my kids, but I think my inibility to allow myself some slack overflows to them.
Thanks so much!
Such a sweet reminder, Shirley, of the effect we can, and do, have on people. It's our choice whether we be an encourager or a discourager. The word of the Lord is clear on this one!!
ReplyDeleteSusan
I totally agree, my friend!!! I have learned a lot from my Mom about encouraging others. She is a great example of this verse. Growing up it was kind of embarrassing at times. She would go up to strangers and compliment them. i.e. She would tell them they had pretty eyes, were good looking or were nice. I'm finding as I grow older, I am sometimes catch myself doing the same thing. Sometimes when you give someone a word of encouragement or compliment, they will look at you a little surprised, but you never know who's day you're going to make....or perhaps someone is struggling and feeling hopeless that day. You may be the person that Jesus is working through to save their life. Words are SO important. They have the power of life and death, as the Bible says. Thanks for sharing this!!!
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