A word aptly spoken

ENCOURAGING WORDS.......

"Encourage one another and BUILD each other up." I Thess. 5:11
"But encourage one another DAILY...." Heb. 3:13

The definition of encouragement is...the action of giving someone support, confidence or hope. To inspire with hope, courage or confidence.

I have been blessed with many people in my life that have been an encouragement to me. Family- friends- strangers. I want to be the kind of person that is continually building up the people in my life. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, " Our chief want is someone who will inspire us to be what we know we could be." How great would it be to BE that person for others? To fill our spouses, children, and friends with HOPE, CONFIDENCE,AND COURAGE should be one of our greatest desires.I know it is not so easy as it sounds as LIFE gets in the way and our own desires for others to encourage us sometimes wins out.
I want this to be a "practical" blog. HOW to be that person. I am just giving examples of what others have done for me or for what I have done. There are WORDS spoken- WORDS- written- NO WORDS- just your presence. There are the WORDS of a spouse- WORDS of a mother- WORDS of a friend.

AS A WIFE-WORDS SPOKEN
"We are masters of the unsaid words, but slaves of those we let slip out." Winston Churchill
We, as wives, have the power to BUILD our husbands up or tear them down. I have learned that keeping quiet sometimes is just as important as speaking. You know your man, and when is a good time to speak and when not to; however, all the time is a good time to speak positive things! They have hopes, dreams, plans-- be the one that is there beside him- encouraging him with your words. We know that once our words are out, we can't take them back. I have done that way too many times in my life, and while I am sure I still do that at times, my goal- my desire- is not to! "Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips." Ps 141:3

WRITTEN-
I know there are different love languages and all, and maybe your husband is different, but mine LOVES all the notes I write for him. I used to call them "coffee pot" notes because I would leave them by the coffee pot when I went to work, but now I am up, fixing his lunchbox, and so I put them in there. If he goes on a trip, I hide them (along with his favorite candy) in his suitcase. They aren't just a note. I make sure they are encouraging (even on days when I FEEL not so encouraging). Quotes about different things, things I love about him, scriptures, etc.. You can leave them anywhere!

AS A MOTHER- SPOKEN

My kids are mostly all grown, and if I could go back and RE-DO those years - as far as encouragement goes- I would. I was not the best, BUT I still have today and tomorrow!! IT is just as important to encourage your older teens and adult kids as it is for the young ones. If yours are still young--- encourage them in WHO they are, and WHAT they want to do. Don't belittle their thoughts, ideas or hopes. (well, the same is true for your older ones too) Speak it out! Tell them how proud you are of them- if you aren't proud of them--- surely you can find something to be proud of! All of us have something in us to be praised. Also, if you speak what CAN be- What you believe they can be- you will encourage their hearts and they may just want to rise to the occasion.
An example in my life- my 3rd child- Micah- so much like his mother, and always challenging me. I definitely have not done all things right by him, but he is a very talented drummer, guitar player and writer. He struggled in school and in following - anyone. I hopefully have always encouraged him in his music. He may or may not be a "professional" musician, but he has followed his dreams.There were times it was just easier to fuss at him about his schooling or any other thing I could find, but I did try not to squash his dreams. There are plenty of other examples from each of my 4. I'm not saying any of this to sound like I have it ALL TOGETHER- I don't, and I sure didn't when my kids were smaller. (regret is another topic)
We do need to teach and instruct our children, but Johann Von Goethe said, " Instruction does much, but encouragement-everything."

WORDS WRITTEN-
This is where I am really working on doing better myself. I think all of our kids - young or old- would love hand written letters from us. Not even letter, but encouraging notes, just like the ones for our spouses.

AS A FRIEND- SPOKEN

"An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up." Prov. 12:25

I know it is easier for us to do this for our friends sometimes than for our family. If I were to write down all the words spoken by my friends to encourage me, it would be a very large book!
Friends- we choose them. They are the ones that we love to laugh with, do things with, and hopefully be there for when things aren't so good. These past few years have been a difficult time for me in some ways, and all I know if it wasn't for the WORDS spoken by friends, I don't know where I would be. Those same friends didn't just speak words of encouragement- they put them to action.
- just being there and lending an ear or praying
- providing rides, food, even cell phones!
- getting me out of the house
- and even borrowing a car for a "while"
I thank God for them every single day!

When it comes to the written word, maybe it is just me, because I LIKE the written word, but as friends we don't do that so much. So, a lot of times for me to be an encouragement, I will send a note in the mail! Yes, the real, old fashioned mail! I still like getting a card in the mail!

Just remember, "Man does not live by bread alone- sometimes he needs a little buttering up." John Maxwell