Good Job Momma
Just three words, but those words brighten my spirit and encourage me to keep running on what seemed the hardest run I had ever done. At that moment, I was trying to finish and still not be late to pick up my daughter from school. I also had an active toddler trying to climb out of his stroller to go back and play in the nearby river. The sun was bright and beating down. I probably looked like I was about to have a heat stroke and maybe that is why they were cheering me on. Still, I hoped that they were encouraging words from one mom to another to keep up the good work.
Simple words, but so important to my heart. The crazy thing about that run was multiple people said encourage words to me. Deep down God knew that I needed those shouts of “You go girl” or “Keep going”. In this life we face trials and disappointments that can make it hard to face another day and having someone encourage us makes a world of difference. Even ourselves are our worse enemy letting our past mistakes keep us from moving forward and stay in the race. Scripture shows us we need to encourage others and show forgiveness too. Ephesians 4:32 ESV “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
Even as humans we need a cheer squad to keep us going. Deep down I know that God is my biggest cheerleader, but sometimes I need others to tell me I are doing a good job. On such a hard and hot run, I experienced the sweetness of strangers encouraging me to keep moving forward. Who am I the biggest cheerleader of? My children, yes. My husband, of course, yes. Friends, possibly. Strangers, probably not. I am convicted that I have guarded my encouraging comments too often, even to my close friends. These days words fly around so quickly we sometimes don’t even think about we say. Are those words encouraging? Are those words uplifting? Are those words edifying others? People reply back saying ‘But what about telling the truth to others.’ I agree. Still, in our house we have a core value “Tell the truth in Kindness.” If we are in a friendship where we can tell the truth it should always be with kindness. My daughter can say that she doesn’t like my lamb roast, but it is how she says it that changes the way I will receive the message.
If you look at the news and social media there can be a lot of negative words thrown around. My challenge for myself is to make sure I am like that fellow momma cheering me on. I want to speak more words of encouragement than negativity to those around me. Ephesians 4:29 ESV states “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” And also in 1 Thessalonians 5:11 ESV “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”
Who are we encouraging today? What kind of words are we using to describe others behind their backs? How can use our words for God?
Let’s pray Lord, I know that I have not been great at speaking kindness to others. Help me to be an encourager like you would want me to be. Not just to my family, but to others I encounter everyday. Help me to know when to speak or hold my tongue. I know there is power in my words. Give me wisdom of how to choose them wisely. Thank you for your forgiveness and kindness to me. In Jesus name Amen
