- Create a pleasant climate in your home where love, joy, kindness, and peace can grow.
- Choose to use words that give a lift to others.
- Breathe some fresh air into your own life by daily reading something inspiring and motivating, stopping to notice something pleasing to your eyes or ears, singing a song that helps you feel good. Others will notice the change in you!
- Make the first move with someone you are holding a grudge against. Choose to let the grudge go.
- During times when words aren’t enough to lift up a broken spirit, show your caring by doing an act of kindness.
- Get together with healthy, positive people. Let the spirit speak to your heart so that you may have life in abundance.
- When someone is hurting deeply, be there for him/her. Your presence can make all the difference.
- Love yourself, and in turn love your neighbors
- Share a smile with someone you pass on the street.
- Say “thank you” to the person who provides a service to you.
The fears, worries, and burdens we carry often discourage our hearts and rob us of the joy intended for all of us. As we live our busy lives, we need words and acts of encouragement. We are blessed by people who give this to us. In a world where so many negative things happen daily, it is encouraging to have a friend who is positive and hope-filled.
Barnabas, a man whose story is told in the Bible in the book of Acts, brought encouragement to the people around him. All of us need an encourager. Barnabas was a generous giver. He was one of those people who gave freely of his time, his gifts, his presence, and more. His generosity was contagious. Barnabas encouraged others by his willingness to believe in people even when they had a hard time believing in themselves.
There are people in our families and community who are hurting today. Chances are you and I can’t identify very many of them. A lot of us are professionals at hiding behind the mask of a smile, acting as if our lives are great. We can smile on the outside while crying and falling apart on the inside.
Will you reach out with kindness and encouragement to everyone in your home, your friends, and the stranger you meet? If we all do this, and you are the one who is hurting, someone will likely, in turn, reach out to you.
*With permission, I have taken great editorial liberties with this article originally written by Rev. Jane Pykus, pastor of Montrose United Methodist and South Montrose Community Churches (PA).
