I am blessed. I have a wonderful
friend. I haven’t seen her in years, but we
keep in touch through the wonder of technology, and occasional snail mail, and
she makes it a point to let me know when she hears of me doing ministry - often
when it’s
something I don’t think
of as ministry. Those little kudos mean
so much to me - the encouragement, not the praise. It’s the shot in the arm I need when I wonder if what I’m doing really makes a
difference.
I think back to the story of
Abraham. when he was 99 years old and God told him “I have made you the
ancestor of a multitude of nations” (Genesis
17:5). I don’t write
about Abraham’s
doubt, I write about the fact he wouldn’t live to see it come true. We often do or say things that are
exceedingly helpful, but we don’t see the fruits of those words or actions. But we need to say and do them.
I have a divorce in my
background. Brad and I will celebrate 39
years of marriage in October, but I was married once before. My ex-husband and I are very good friends,
and he is part of our family. But we
weren’t good
spouses. I shared that fact with a woman
in the church in Bishop many years ago, just an idle conversation. Several years later, when her husband left
her, she told me how much it helped her that I had told her about my
divorce. I had absolutely no idea those
were the words that would help someone.
I like to think it’s the
sermons I learned to craft so carefully, the thoughts I share with you each
week, the prayers I’ve
shared in hospital rooms and sanctuaries, but it was a story about my
shortcomings.
Everyone needs encouragement. Everyone needs a cheerleader. I tutor children in a combined first and
second grade classroom who need help with reading and math skills. One of my pupils is a child who clearly doesn’t receive much attention at
home. When I complimented her on
something, I said “But of
course you’ve
heard that before.” In all honesty she replied, “No, I haven’t.” The compliment was over something so small I
can’t
remember it, but the fact she’d never heard it before was a shocker. This is a child who needs affirmation to take
that scared, anxious look off her face.
I pray that as she grows older she will become confident and successful,
and remember that her teacher and tutor believed in her. I have only another month or so to do the
best I can.
There are so many lonely people,
so many people shut away, isolated, fearful, perhaps unable to
communicate. This is the season of
rebirth and rejoicing in the risen Christ.
This is the time He walked on the earth, showing himself to his
disciples and preparing them for the great commission. Let us prepare ourselves to do the same.
“Therefore
encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing” 1 Thessalonians 5:11.
Dear Father/Mother God, Help us remember we are all your children,
and we all need encouragement. Help us
to be that person to someone who is feeling lost or overwhelmed, knowing that
we might never see the fruits of our actions and words. Thank you for the brave people who step out
in our behalf each day, advocating for those of us who need their stamina and
determination. We are blessed. Amen.