11 Jun Encourage One Another
In my travels, I have had the opportunity to meet individuals from many different places and all walks of life. I can honestly say that after hundreds of flights, cab rides, and hotel stays, I can count on both hands how many people I actually remember. A few are easy because they are celebrities who I see on TV from time to time. Some stand out because of odd behavior or statements that made me look for a quick exit. Others I remember because of a great conversation that left me thinking “I could be friends with this person.” Among all of these individuals, there is one woman that stands out from all the rest. For purposes of this post, I will call her Belinda (not her real name).
Belinda was a driver called by a hotel desk employee to take me to a meeting. She immediately stood out because she was impeccably dressed and she had an exceptionally warm disposition that instantly made me feel comfortable. For the first few minutes of the ride we silently listened to a sermon that she was playing on the radio. After the sermon ended, Belinda and I began to talk and I noticed that her conversation was full of words of encouragement. She acknowledged that she didn’t know anything about me but she knew that as a woman, I was facing challenges that were common to many. She went on to say that she felt that it was our duty as women to encourage one another and to lift one another up.
When we arrived at the destination, she gave me my bags and then reached out to give me a hug. I was so overwhelmed by her kindness that I stood there for a moment in confusion. What was especially significant about this interaction was that, unbeknownst to her, I had received word not even 24 hours before of a death in my family. I was also about to walk into what I knew would be a particularly challenging meeting. I woke up that morning feeling sad and anxious, but I got out of the car feeling excited, empowered and looking forward to the day ahead.
Scripture says that we are to exhort (encourage) one another daily (Heb 3:13). It doesn’t say periodically, once a week or twice a month. Belinda didn’t know me, but she encouraged me and her positive attitude was contagious. She had no idea where my head was at that morning or what an impact her words would have, but she encouraged me just because.
I wonder how different the world would be if there were more people like Belinda. What if we all walked around and encouraged one another? What if we all replaced negative words and insults with hugs? We never know how much our words of encouragement can mean to someone else. It could be just the Vitamin “E” they need to get them through the day.
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