Building Stronger Christians with Simple Words of Encouragement

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

A couple of weeks ago, there was some confusion dealing with some special food requests for my children while at school. Over the past two years, the pediatrician had written a prescription (for extra calories/fat) for whole milk for our triplets. We forgot to inquire about it again at this year's check up. When some comments were made in the line one day about not having the milk for them, the tensions began to rise.

I contacted the pediatrician to see if we were going to continue the whole milk another year. After I confirmed 2% was okay, I began to think more like a nurse than a mom. I am fully aware of the larger amount of food concerns for children these days (i.e. allergies, diabetic dietary restrictions, etc.). What a headache that must be for the food manager some days!

Then I began to think with my heart. What a thankless job that must sometimes be! So, I wrote her a thank you note and left it with the school nurse to deliver. I thanked her for accommodating our needs over the past couple of years. I acknowledged the difficulties and challenges that she must sometimes face. I told her that we noticed the work that it takes and that we so much appreciated how she was a part of a wonderful team of people who cared for our children while they were at school.

A couple of days later, I went to their school to have lunch with their class. I was in the line with them when the manager noticed me. She said something that I couldn't quite hear. As I made my way to the end of the line, she came out and met me. "I owe you a hug!" she said. We hugged, and she explained how her day was going horribly when she received my note. She said that it had lifted her up.

After this, I received an email notice from a Christian greeting card company, as I do once a week or so. This one in particular caught my attention. It was a reminder of the National Day of Encouragement. It also gave the Scripture for this devotion. That Scripture passage, though brief, spoke volumes to my heart. It very much described the story I shared above. And it also reminded me of how important it is for us to encourage each other.

The refrain to an older popular song comes to mind as I write this:
Lean on me, when you're not strong.
And I'll be your friend;
I'll help you carry on.
For, it won't be long
'Til I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on.

While this doesn't specifically speak of encouragement, it does speak of the action/reaction phenomenon. We need to encourage and build each other up. You never know when you may be having a horrible day and stand in need of some encouraging words. Imagine what kind of a world we could have if we would only but lift each other up with encouragement and kind words?!