Love is Being an Encourager

"Good Afternoon! Welcome to Moe's!" Like me, I’m sure you’ve taken notice of the fast food chains and stores whose employees shout out welcoming words when we walk in their doors! It may be scripted, but to me, it's encouraging! I was noticed! I also recognize it when a salesperson has been taught to be friendly and to look for something they can compliment their customers about: "I love your hair!" "Nice sweater!" In spite of their words sounding a little trite, it still gives us a feel-good feeling, doesn’t it?

I’ve had many encouragers in my life. At age 12, I remember my first babysitting job (50 cents an hour) taking care of a doctor’s two little ones – ages 3 months and 3. Their home was right across the street from ours, so the children's mom was assured I had help on stand-by if I needed it. I’ll never forget overhearing that mom telling my Mom: “Donna is so responsible for her age!” That made me want to be even more responsible. I’ll never forget, as a 13-year old, the choir director pointing out “You harmonize so beautifully." That gave me the confidence to belt out my harmonies even more. A friend said, " Donna, you have the most beautiful clothes.” That’s because my sweet mama, on a limited income, made sure that I wore trendy, beautiful clothes and she could do that because she was a great “deal” finder. I think that’s why, to this day, I head to the sales racks before I look at the full-priced items.

Today, I am an outgoing, avid writer, blogger, teacher and speaker because my husband encouraged me to speak publicly. He encouraged me to get my pilot’s license, real estate broker’s license and more. I had a boss who encouraged me to apply for a job that I didn’t have the required Master’s Degree for, but he knew I could do the job. I did and he was right. My Sweetheart passed way and I was surrounded by encouragers who literally lifted me up above the fray with their love and support.

And, now, the encouragement I receive from so many of you, my FB and blog friends and family that cheer me on in doing what I’m doing right now -- encouraging me to keep encouraging.
I was encouraged by others and I, too, became an encourager. That’s my point today, to say it’s time for us all to put on our Encourager Hats. It’s obvious how much our world needs cheerleaders and encouragers. I know, as I type this post, you get what I’m saying because you sense God’s gift within you. You’ve been through your share of heartaches and someone was there to encourage you, so you know like 2 Corinthians 1:4 says “So that you might comfort others with the same comfort that you’ve been comforted with”, you must encourage others. Now you are passionately aware that you’ve been called to speak up, reach out and lift up others. It’s not always easy because you don’t want to intrude or be a “know it all”, but that’s not what matters. What matters is you have something to give..

God uses people to encourage people. He's looking for available hearts to love and encourage the world around them. My hand is raised. How about yours?

1 Thessalonians 5:11 "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing"! Rise and shine, Encouragers! Let’s go encourage!

Be the Best Version of YOU

Since hearing the phrase “Be the best version of yourself”, I’ve not only endeavored to apply those words to myself, but in the few days I've been with my two younger grandsons, I spoke those words to them several times. You know, that smack-talking kids like to do when they’re playing competitive games with each other. Well, for that matter….the smack-talking anyone babbles out at any time. It seems humorous at the time – but REALLY….is that being the best version of ourselves when any kind of disparaging “talk” comes from us? 1 Thessalonians 5:11 says “Encourage one another and build each other up.”

Be the best version of yourself. What does that really mean? It could be applied to our physical well being and how we treat and take care of our mind and bodies. It could be directed at being all we can be – getting as much education as we can, always being willing to develop more skills and abilities, becoming a better cook, handyman or woman, learning a foreign language, becoming a well-rounded athlete – taking all those gifts and talents God placed within us and using them all to our greatest potential.

But for this post, I’m applying those words “Be the best version of yourself” to who we are as a caring, giving and loving human being. Our world is full of those who seem intent on “fault-finding”, scrutinizing and examining others – politicians, entertainers, religious leaders, athletes, etc. That attitude oftentimes takes hold of us in our own sphere of influence. We, take on that tendency to look at others with an eye for fault-finding. Maybe it's times to take a look at the ONE we are responsible for -- that's us! It's time to look inward with a thorough self-analysis, and ask these questions: “Are you the friend you wish you had?” “Are you the wife/husband, mother/ father, daughter/son, sister/brother that you wish you had?” In other words, instead of pulling out the “10 Things I Don’t Like About You” to someone else, maybe it’s the ideal time to make a list that says “10 Things I Can Do to Improve ME” so that I become the friend, spouse, child, sibling I wish I had.

I want to be THAT friend that I want to have – a friend that is trustworthy, kind, giving, caring, not overbearing and not a meddler. How many times have I wished for a friend to put their arm around me and help me know “everything’s gonna’ be alright? If I want that, then I start with me. I want to be the noticer of people who need an arm put around their shoulder that encourages them. Who can I encourage and put my arm around today? How many times have I wanted someone to notice me and welcome me to their circle? My response to those feelings is “I need to be the one that welcomes others to my circle or my group or my conversation”.

Being the best version of ourselves is first to BE – be the beautiful creation God made us to be by appreciating all that God placed within us to BE – that quirky laugh that brightens up a room with joy; those big brown eyes that see the pain and needs of others and does something about it; that voice that speaks encouragement and hope into others, and that mind that consciously conjures up ways to change this world for the better. Most of all to be that ONE that sets the example of God’s love and peace to others…..so that they want YOU to be their best friend. In so doing – we ARE being the best version of ourselves!

Encouragers…Time to Take Courage and Encourage

Have you noticed when you walk into a store and you hear one of the clerks or food preparers shout out “Good afternoon, welcome to ____”? Isn’t that encouraging? You were noticed! And you know that some of those sales clerks have been taught to say something nice to you like “I love your hair or I love your sweater!” In spite of it seeming a little trite, it still gives you a feel-good feeling, doesn’t it?

Yesterday, I started thinking about those people who have been encouragers to me. I remember, as a young child, the choir director pointing out “You harmonize so beautifully at your young age.” That gave me such confidence to belt out my harmonies even more. Someone else said, “Donna, you have the most beautiful clothes.” That’s because my sweet mama, though she didn’t have much financial wherewithal, she made sure that I had beautiful clothes to wear and she could do that because she was a great “deal” finder. I think that’s why, to this day, I go to the sales racks before I look at the full-priced items. In my post, yesterday, I spoke about how average I was in school, but when it came to my clothes, I stood out.

Today, I am an outgoing, avid writer, teacher and speaker, because my husband encouraged me to speak publically, to get my pilot’s license, real estate broker’s license and more. I had a boss who encouraged me to apply for a job that I didn’t have the required Master’s Degree for it, but he knew I could do the job. I did and he was right. More recently, was the encouragement and support I had during the time of my husband’s illness and later his passing. The loving attention and care from dear friends and family lifted me way above the fray. And, now, the encouragement I receive from so many of you, my FB friends and family – that cheers me on in doing what I’m doing right now -- encouraging me to keep encouraging.

I said all that to say, because I was encouraged by others…..I, too, became an encourager. And that’s my point today, to say it’s time for us all to put on our Encourager Hats. It’s obvious how much our world needs cheerleaders and encouragers. I know as I type this post, you get what I’m saying, because you sense God’s gift within you. You’ve been through your share of heartaches and someone was there to encourage you, so you know like 2 Corinthians 1:4 says “So that you might comfort others with the same comfort that you’ve been comforted with”, you must encourage others. Now you are passionately aware that you’ve been called to speak up, reach out and lift up others. It’s not always easy because you don’t want to intrude or be a “know it all”, but that’s not what matters. What matters is you have something to give even if the recipient seems to be less than aware of your God-given gift. Here’s how you know you’re an encourager:

~ You hear someone express pain – maybe from a loss of a loved one, or the loss of a marriage, or they are experiencing physical pain, you know you must encourage them with at least the words “I’m praying for you”, but you don’t want it to sound like a cliché. I promise you...it isn’t. However and whenever you say those words…it matters – if you pray. The power of heaven lines itself up with those prayers. It tells them….you care enough to call in the cavalry…..er’ CALVARY where God marshals His army of warriors on their behalf. They know they’re not alone in their fight.

~ What about that attitude of looking for something good in someone, like those store clerks, to build up and bring a bright light to their day? Why not encourage by remarking “You are the fastest cashier I’ve ever seen!” or “You are so friendly. Thank you.” or “I love your smile”. When we do that, we’re being encouragers.

~ Encouragers often go the 2nd mile. Sometimes being an encourager means we should go out of our way to encourage someone. Invite them to lunch so they can just vent. Offer to take care of their children so they can have a couple of hours of “Me Time”. Take over cookies or a cake with a little note that says “Thinking about you and what a great Mom you are!”

I promise you, every word and action we offer in whatever way, is multiplied and magnified. We hold the power in our hands when we pick up the phone to send a text or to type a comment in a FB post that speaks truth and life and comfort. It’s not as much about the actual words as it is about knowing we care. We don’t have to be concerned that our words are perfect and we should never let the enemy talk us out of typing them – he knows the good we do as encouragers and of course he gets all bent out of shape when we foil his plans.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing"!

Rise and shine, Encouragers! Let’s go get ‘em…..let’s ENCOURAGE!!

What's Your Story?

I attended an event where one of the men at our table told how he knew he had been touched by God two years' ago, and though he is still waiting for a liver transplant, he's telling his story to young people of how he abused his body with alcohol and medications. No doubt, his story of a tough road back then and now, will cause those young people to seriously consider the roads they're on.

We were so blessed by his story, but then as we talked and looked around our table, we realized that each, and every one of us, has a STORY of our own of how God's grace kept us, delivered us, spared us, healed us and restored us.

We realized that's why we have a STORY -- why God allows us to go through "stuff" so that we can share His love and faithfulness to others. We really are on the same road.....coming from all directions, but each of us are here to grab the hand of someone and help them through because "we've been there, too".

God's plans are always to use us to build each other's faith and trust in Him. I know I want to inspire people. I want someone to look at me and say "Because of you, I didn't give up." Are you sharing YOUR story with others? Maybe yours is the one that will comfort, bless and encourage someone today!