A couple years back, I was going through a season in my life where God was really having me deal with issues I had carried it for decades. I don’t know if you have ever experienced that, but it can be incredibly difficult. It’s like ripping a Band-Aid off of your soul.
In the midst of all of that, I got a text randomly from one of our pastors and elders, Paul Klewer. It was just a simple encouragement letting me know how good of a job I was doing, how much he appreciated me, and that he was for me. I remember I was sitting at the dinner table at my parent’s house surrounded by my family when I read it. I instantly cried, partially because I am a crier, but in that moment, it was breath to my lungs.
I saved that message, and over the course of the next year, I would often go back and reread it. I desperately needed the encouragement.
Especially since I received that text message from Pastor Paul, I have really tried to make it a point to regularly encourage people. I would randomly text someone who serves in our youth ministry, or be sure to shake their hand and look them in the eye and tell them how much I appreciate them. Little things like that just to let people know you care about them.
But encouragement is a curious thing. When you encourage someone, you think it will make them feel better, feel appreciated, and it does! Some people cry, partially because they are cryers. Some people smile real big because it feels good to be appreciated. So I encourage them and it makes them want to work harder, go the extra mile, etc. But encouragement is a curious thing because not only does it lift the person you’re encouraging, it does some pretty incredible things to you, too.
Encouragement feels good because encouragement is good. It is good to build someone else up. It is good to speak life into them. It is good to pour out your appreciation and love on them. The funny thing about spraying your kids with the water hose in the backyard is that about 100% of the time, you get wet, too. And the great thing about encouraging others, is that you get encouraged too.
The Psalmist is right. Those who refresh will be refreshed.
So wherever you are right now, would you just stop, pick up your phone, queue up a text message to someone who either needs or deserves encouragement. Send them a text message. Tell them how much you love and appreciate them. Tell them you couldn’t do your job without them, or that the family would not work without them. Encourage them. Build them up. You will find something interesting happens. YOU will be encouraged.
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