Encouragement

Dearest Ones,

May God help us to learn how to be an encourager. It is the urgent need of our day. It has been said that we live by encouragement and we die without it. Something within each of us cries out to be noticed. Someone suggested that most Americans suffer from a severe case of attention deprivation; we don't know if anybody cares about us. As I was volunteering in the hospital this week, I met a grieving mother, whose 26-year old son had unsuccessfully tried to commit suicide. He is single, has a good job and a brilliant mind. No one knows why he did it. Could it be a lack of love?

The theme of encouragement is everywhere in the Bible. It commands us over and over to encourage one another.

"Therefore, encourage each other, just as you are now doing." (1 Thess. 5:11)

"Anxious hearts are very heavy but a word of encouragement does wonders!" (Proverbs 12:25)

Encouragement means to come alongside someone during difficult times to give them renewed courage and hope.

I've had to learn to encourage myself because it's hard for me to tell someone else about my problems. Our loving Father has given me everything I need in the Bible. Psalm 43 says; "O my soul why be so discouraged? Trust in God! He is there with His powerful help." It is true we are commanded to bear one another's burdens, but there are times when there is no one but God there to help us. In those times we must, like David who wrote the psalms, look to the Lord for encouragement.

Life is painful for many people. We must allow the Lord to use us as encouragers - not discouragers!

Be creative in your encouragement. A lonely wife of a serviceman could be refreshed with a letter or card; an offer to baby-sit for a frazzled couple, so they can go out, would work wonders for their spirits. A visit or a card could be a highlight for an elderly person or shut-in. Don't be afraid to touch - most people crave touching, although I know it is often misunderstood.

I'd like to close with a favorite poem:

A SIMPLE HUG

It's wondrous what a hug can do.

A hug can cheer you when you're blue.

A hug can say, "I love you so.
Or, "I sure hate to see you go."

A hug is, "Welcome back again,"

And "Great to see you! Where've you been?"

A hug can soothe a small child's pain

And bring a rainbow after rain.

The hug - there's no doubt about it -
We scarcely could survive without it!
A hug delights and warms and charms.
It must be why God gave us arms.

Hugs are great for fathers and mothers,
Sweet for sisters, swell for brothers.
And chances are your favorite aunts
Love them more than potted plants.

Kittens crave them. Puppies love them.
Heads of state are not above them.
A hug can break the language barrier,
And make your travel so much merrier.

No need to fret about your store of 'em.
The more you give, the more there's more of 'em.
So stretch those arms without delay
And give someone a hug today!!!


Love and prayers,
Sister Francelle