“Encourage one another and build each other up..”-1 Thessalonians 5:11a NIV

“…encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.”-1 Thessalonians 5:14b

Maya Angelou said ‘ I learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but will never forget how you made them feel.

Isn’t that so true? Can you think of the many  times  when your heart lifted up in spirits because of some encouragement you received?

Being an ‘encourager' is not easy. It has to be intentional and it is sometimes hard work! It is not one of the traits I am born with but Math 7:12 has taught me to do it time and again. If I like an encouraging text, phone call, email or kind word- others will like it too!

“In everything, do to others as you would have them do to you.”-Matthew 7:12 NIV

In our homes, schools, workplaces whom can we encourage and uplift? In the supermarket or in traffic, could you be little encouragers? How can we be kind to the store manager, to the lonely man on the wheel chair, to the lady who has just finished her chemo?

If we walk through life keeping this in mind, I can assure you that God opens many opportunities for us to do that. Let us look at a few practical, doable ideas and I am sure you can think of many more.

• Writing an encouraging text, email or verse to a friend or co worker.

• Meeting the single Mum at church for coffee to encourage and uplift.

• Encouraging a colleague at work, a school teacher or your child’s friend’s parent with a bunch of home grown flowers or some spinach and tomatoes from your patch.

• If you are fond of cooking/ baking, dropping off a batch to the tired workers at the Covid hospital ward, the hard working teachers at school or your child’s Sunday School teacher.

• How about a call to your pastor to tell her that her sermon helped you that week?

• When you read articles in Tirzah, have they helped you, have the verses comforted or strengthened you? Could you write a few words of encouragement? It may be just what a tired Mum, a stressed out lawyer or a weary teenager who writes for the website needs to brighten her day.

• When was the last time you called on Mum or surprised Dad with a ‘ How are you Dad’ call? Could you stop by on your way from work at Granny’s place with dinner for 2?

Whom can you encourage today?

How can you and I be little encouragers for Jesus everyday?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Shoba Ranjitsingh is an architect, writer, a proud mother and an absolutely thrilled grandma to little Nivin. Shoba enjoys studying the Bible and her role as STL at Bible Study Fellowship in Auckland in NZ for 6 years has enabled her to now write and lead Women's Bible Studies. Helping women study and enjoy God's Word as they embrace everyday ordinary life is her prayer as a writer. Long walks, cakes, hymns, books, quiet family evenings, chatting with family across oceans describe Shoba. In this phase of life, Ranjit and Shoba enjoy feeding the birds, smelling the roses, pursuing their hobbies and being grateful for all that God has called them to do. Shoba works as a Learning Support in a Primary School in Auckland and everything simple, honest and true bring her joy!