Ways to be an encouragement...

I often ponder how much I have been impacted by people in my life who have taken careful thought to be an encouragement to all those around them.  Most of the actions were miniscule, but far reaching.  It may have been a word, a touch, a gift, an embrace, a shoulder to cry on,  a simple look in the eye, or just a listening ear.  I like to reminisce on those encouraging moments & think of ways to repeat them to others so that it becomes a wave of encouragement in this life that is so often full of disappointments & hardships.  Many times, when WE are the ones that are going through a hardship, focusing on being an encouragement to others helps keep our minds off whatever difficulty it is that we are going through making it a dual benefit! 

Who are those around us that need encouragement most?  Well, if you're married, your husband needs it for sure!  Your effort to encourage your husband can be a fire that lights up a seemingly hopeless marriage.  It has the power to kindle it in ways unimaginable!  Hiding love notes from you in his pockets, texting him to tell him how thankful you are for him, making every effort to greet him with a smile & a kiss at the door when he comes home from a hard day's work.  The possibilities are endless!  Your marriage is THE most important human relationship you will ever have on earth.  Nurture it!    

If you have children, they need it from the time they are born all the way up to adulthood!  Take them on an unexpected trip to a local ice cream shop; spend special one-on-one time w/ them; tell them how proud you are of them & how blessed you are that God gave them to you; let them know that you pray for them regularly; make sure they understand how unique & special they are as individuals; color a picture with them or have them bake cookies with you--use that time to talk, share, answer questions they may have.  

Parents:  Find ways to honor your parents.  You know their likes & dislikes.  Many times, just calling them makes their day!  Write them a letter telling them how much they mean to you.  Send them a card.  You most likely know what their love language is since you lived w/ them so DO something that tells them in THEIR love language just how much they mean to you.  (See the link on my side bar that takes you to the love language quiz. It's not just for lovers!) 

Pregnant women:  offer to clean her house, wash dishes, or do laundry; make her family a meal or several frozen ones for when the baby is due; run errands for her; if she has other little ones--offer to take them to the park or a walk while she stays home & takes that much needed nap; give her a foot rub or (if you're not sure how to do that exactly!) a gift card to a local pedicure; offer to stay the night to keep her company if her husband is away or if she's a single parent.  I remember all the kind deeds friends & loved ones did for me each time I was pregnant!  Their kindnesses meant SO much to me!  I will never forget them!

Many elderly people cannot get things done outside of the house & need to be driven from place to place--offer to get them where they need to go or run their errands for them; plan to bring dinner & spend an evening with them; mow their lawn; weed their garden; do those extra strenuous things around the house that need to be done; or just stop by to check on them. 

These are just SOME of the ways you can be an encouragement to others.  But there are endless possibilities!  Sit down & write some out.  Share them with me in response to this post!  Use them on random people in your life.  God will honor your efforts & reward you with the blessing of knowing that you've made someone feel extra special.