EncourageIn last week’s podcast I interviewed Sue Kuru from New Zealand. Sue was with me on the very first day I shared the burden God had given me to begin the Above Rubies magazine. That was nearly 48 years ago. Sue wrote in a number of the Above Rubies magazines in the early days of printing. The following is an article from a 1981 Above Rubies magazine where a few of us ladies shared together about the blessing of encouraging one another: Sue Kuru, Enid Forbes, June Louis and I share about how we can bring sunshine into people’s lives. I know you will be blessed by this dialogue together.
 
NANCY: I believe, don’t you, that the greatest way to enjoy happiness is to continually bring happiness and joy to others. A wonderful way to do this is through the ministry of encouragement. Unfortunately, this doesn’t seem to be a natural trait in many people today. We live in a negative society where people continually pull one another down. But in doing this, we deprive one another of one of our greatest needs. All of us need to be recognized and appreciated, don’t we? Encouragement is as necessary for our emotional well-being as food is for our body!
 
However, if we want to receive this encouragement, we must start giving it to others. We reap what we sow. If we sow encouragement, we’ll reap it! If we sow negative, destroying, and depressing words, that’s what we’ll get back. Words are like boomerangs.
 
ENID: My dictionary says encouragement means “to inspire, infuse, stimulate, give hope, and put courage into.” I like that. It opens up a whole new world for us to move in. I believe that we could turn our country upside down just by being encouragers.
 
NANCY: I believe that too, Enid. The Bible says in Hebrews 3:13 that we are to “encourage one another DAILY.” It’s God’s purpose for us to be encouraged daily, and that we in turn encourage someone else daily. The same verse goes on to say . . . “lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” How easy it is for people to move into unbelief and become victims of self-pity and depression if they are not encouraged.
 
ENID: I like what it says in Hebrews 10:25: “Encourage one another and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” The pressure of these last days in which we live is greater than ever and therefore the need for encouragement is even more needful.
 
NANCY: But how do we become an encouraging person? We need to be in touch with God, of course, because He is the source of all encouragement, comfort, and consolation (2 Corinthians 1:3-6). It says in Isaiah 66:13 that as a mother comforts her little babe, so He comforts us. As we receive His comfort in our trials and tribulations, we are then able to comfort others with the comfort that we have received from God.
 
In 2 Corinthians 7:7-8, it says: “God who encourages the downhearted, encouraged us . . .” But how did God do this? It goes on to say . . . “by the arrival of Titus.” God encouraged his servants by sending along someone to encourage them. God longs to strengthen and lift up those who are cast down and depressed but the only way He can do it is through you and me. We must be constantly available to the Lord so that through us He can minister His encouragement to the many who need lifting up.
 
Every day, as we spend our time in prayer in the morning, we should ask the Lord, “Who do You want me to encourage today? How do You want me to do it?” As you wait on the Lord, He will show you. Because you are in touch with a creative God, He will give you new and creative ideas of how to surprise people with blessings.
 
We must take time to think about others. It is only as we take time to think about them that we will think of ways to encourage and show our appreciation to them. Take time every day to think about each one of your children and how you can inspire them. They need continual encouragement. Take time each day to think about your husband and the encouraging things you can say to him (even if you have to think really hard!).
 
One day, as I was carrying in my groceries from the car, God spoke to me very clearly. “Nancy,” he said, “how can I reveal to you the needs of others, if you are always thinking of yourself?” How true that is. If all our thoughts are on ourselves, we will not have time for others. Just as we have a certain limit of physical strength, we only have a certain limit emotionally. If all our emotions are spent on ourselves, we will not have any left to pour out on others. Philippians 2:23 says: “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.”
 
ENID: There was a time in my life when I couldn’t encourage a fly, let alone a person! I lived in and out of depression. Many times, I would be depressed for months on end and could see no future in anything. But one day I saw something in myself – I was full of unbelief. After confessing this to Jesus, I decided that I would exercise my willpower and start to be an encourager.
 
SUE: A wonderful way that I’ve found to encourage people is by posting them a lovely card with a personal message of encouragement or appreciation. I’ve had much joy in blessing widows, single mothers, and mothers at home. Every time I do this it is always the perfect timing. It’s a good idea to have a pile of cards on hand for when the LORD lays someone on your heart. I search for hours in bookshops for appropriate cards.
 
One time, my next-door neighbor, who knew we were Christians, asked me to pray for a friend of hers who was very ill. For three consecutive days (always while I was hanging out the clothes), the Lord impressed upon me to send her a card. I shared with her that although I did not know her, I was praying for her. I told her that Jesus loved her and wanted to be her Friend, and I told her how she could find Jesus and her Savior.
 
This lady was so blessed by receiving this from me that she found where I lived and came to thank me. The following day, she died. How glad I was that I’d obeyed the prompting of the Lord.
 
NANCY: I remember a lovely incident which happened down my street. One of my Christian friends felt it on her heart to encourage an older widow. She went down to the shop to look around for something to buy for her and chose a little vase that would hold just one flower. She took this little gift to the lady who was so blessed by her thoughtfulness.
 
But God hadn’t finished yet. He really wanted to let this dear widow know that she was special to Him. He also laid it on the heart of another friend to bless this woman. She went to the florist to get her some flowers. As she looked around at all the bunches of flowers, she felt drawn to buy only one flower, a lovely specimen.
 
Can you imagine the tears of joy when this second lady arrived to bless her with one flower, which fitted the vase perfectly? How exciting it is to be sensitive and to obey the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
 
SUE: Another way we can encourage people is by letting them share in our lifestyle. Recently, two of my friends were really inspired while being in my home. They would come at different times and find me preserving. They mentioned that they’d never preserved before and didn’t have a clue how to do it. I showed them how to go about it and they got so enthused. Both friends went home and made jam, tomato sauce, tomato chutney, beetroot, and preserved all kinds of fruit. They were blessed out of their socks! Not only were they encouraged in their role as homemakers, but their husbands were so blessed too.
 
ENID: I used to find it so artificial to tell people that they looked nice or comment on something I appreciated about them. It wasn’t because I didn’t mean it, but simply because I’d never done it before. But as I determined in my heart to do it, it soon became natural. So don’t be put off by your feelings. Just go that wee bit further.
 
JUNE: Do you think there is a difference between flattery and encouragement?
 
NANCY: Oh, yes. Flattery is when you say something nice to someone so that they’ll think you’re nice because you’ve said it. Encouragement is sharing words of appreciation because you really want to bless that person. You’re not worried about what they think of you at all.
 
I feel that it’s important to choose the right time to say the right word. Proverbs 15:23 says: “A word spoken in DUE SEASON; how good it is”. And I love that scripture in Isaiah 50:4 which says: “The LORD God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a WORD IN SEASON to him that is weary: He wakeneth my ear to hear as the learned.”
 
JUNE: Everybody who knows me knows that my favorite scripture is 1 Corinthians 12:25: where is says that we “should have the same CARE one for another.”
 
NANCY: June, I remember you telling me once of 31 different ways that we can CARE for one another – one for every day of the month. Could you share them with us all?
 
JUNE: Sure, but just another verse first: “Let us (that’s you and me) consider and give attentive, continuous CARE, to watching over one another, studying how we may stir up one another to stimulate and incite to love, helpful deeds and noble activities,” (Hebrews 10:24 Amplified Bible)
 
And now for those 31 suggestions:
1. COMFORT— the sad and depressed.
2. CHAT—take time to visit someone who is lonely.
3. CHORES— washing, ironing, or housework for someone who is sick.
4. COOK—invite someone in for a meal. Be given to hospitality.
5. CHILD-MINDING— give a busy mum a few hours off.
6. CLOTHING—don’t hoard clothes but share blessings with others.
7. CHINA/CROCKERY— If you have extra, share it with those who don’t.
8. CALL—on the phone to encourage and bless others.
9. COMPASSION— words are often not enough. Show love in your actions too.
10. CAKES—bake some bread or cookies for a busy mother.
11. CARDS—send a card and tell someone how much you appreciate them.
12. CUSTOMS—look out for visitors from overseas and take an interest in them and their customs.
13. CLUCKY—stop and take notice of little babies, even in the street. Encourage young mothers.
14. CONCERN—show concern for all but especially the elderly.
15. CORRESPONDENCE—write a letter or note to encourage. Don’t forget those on the mission field.
16. CARS—offer a lift to someone who doesn’t have a vehicle so they can do their shopping or go visiting.
17. CHILDREN—make a point of encouraging each one of your children every day.
18. COURTESY—good manners still mean a lot.
19. CONSIDERATION—take time to think about the needs of others.
20. CREATIVITY—If you have a talent or hobby, use it to bless others.
21. CUDDLE—a holy hug does wonders.
22. CAPTIVITY—remember to pray for our Christian brothers and sisters in Communist lands.
23. CONSTANT PRAYER— prayer will accomplish what nothing else can. Don’t give up.
24. COMMITMENT—to each other today and in the months ahead.
25. CO-OPT—call upon others to help you in ministering to needy situations. Don’t try to do it all yourself.
26. CRY—weep with those who weep and grieve.
27. CONFESS—be prepared to admit that you’re wrong.
28. CONTINUE—don’t get weary in well-doing.
29. CHECK—to see if you have spoken words of encouragement to someone today.
30. CONTENTMENT—give thanks for all things but don’t expect thanks for all that you do. Your reward is in Heaven.
31. COURIER—take an Above Rubies to a friend or neighbor. In fact, take some with you wherever you go to be ready to give them to whoever you meet!
 
NANCY: Thanks, June. We certainly have no excuse after that monthly list.
 
After having attended a few funerals recently, I have been feeling how important it is to let people know how we feel about them NOW. It seems that the most wonderful things that are ever said about people are at their funerals! Why wait until then when they can’t hear? It would be good if we took notice of this little poem—
 
If with pleasure you are viewing
Any work that I am doing,
If you like me or you love me,
Tell me now.
 
Don’t withhold your approbation
‘Til the person gives narration
And I lay with snowy lilies
O’er my brow.
 
For no matter how you shout it
I won’t care a thing about it,
I won’t hear how many teardrops
You will shed.
 
If my life’s a credit to me,
Now’s the time to slip it to me,
For I cannot read my tombstone
When I’m dead!
 
The Word of God is certainly true when it says: “A word of encouragement DOES WONDERS.” (Proverbs 12:25—The Living Bible) A word of appreciation can change a person’s life. A telephone call can change the day.
 
Let’s show our appreciation to another—NOW!
 
Reprinted from Above Rubies #17, 1981.