Bear Grylls can start a fire in a monsoon and 85 mph winds with nothing more than a Twizzler and a soaking wet single match. You can too with a word of encouragement.
The world is a pretty harsh place. You never know where a person is at any given moment.
There have been times when I’ve been down then, out of the blue someone else reaches into my life with a simple word of encouragement.
There have been times when I’ve been upbeat and forging ahead. Again, here comes someone with a word of encouragement that propels me further than I thought I could go.
Words have the power to build-up or destroy. We must use them wisely.
Why do we find it so easy to tear someone else down yet difficult to hand them word of encouragement? By nature, humans are selfish little beasts! We often spend more time tending to our own fires instead of helping others stoke their fires.
It’s not all about you. Lift up your eyes and look around. Ask God the question; Who needs a genuine word of encouragement around me today?
Starters: Stoking the fire
- Hey, great work on that project last week!
- You are a great wife and mother, here’s why…
- You know, something you said to me last week really impacted me…
- I’ve watched you work hard and I want to tell you to keep at it!
- You have been a great waitress/waiter today, it blessed me. Keep up the great work.
If you look around and observe others, you will find an opportunity to stoke their fire with a word of encouragement.
“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” (1 Thes 5:11)
“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works…” (Heb 10:24)
Share a time when someone has delivered a word of encouragement to you and how it felt by commenting below.