Encouraging Others

Isn't it so nice when someone encourages you?

Maybe just out of the blue
or in conversation?

I don't think we can ever over dose on
encouragement

so many are so lonely
or don't have much support in
their lives

and desperately need it

sometimes
it is our spouses that need it
the most

I was challenged long ago
to make encouragement
apart of our marriage

our daily conversations

just words or affirmation
like:
I appreciate all that you do, how hard you
work for our family

how dedicated you are to
your family
and the people you work with

etc....

it takes thoughtfulness
and eyes that are open to see
how hard our partners do work

words that build one another up
not tear eachother down

but the other part is
giving these words without ever expecting
them in return
that is not the point
or giving them in the first place

I think this is apart of loving
and serving our partner
in a self-sacrificing way

I think early on in our marriage
I wanted affirmation

I was expecting it
and when you expect it
I think we can get let down very easily

the perspective I needed to learn is one from the heart
I needed God's perspective

I say these words
I encourage my husband

because I want to
because I want to build him up

I am commanded to love my husband

not just when it feels good for me
not just when it is convenient
not just when it is easy

but everyday
dying to myself to serve

(I try to write a light hearted kind of post
and this is what it turns into)

my point I was meaning to make was this

I used to get my knickers in a knot

'what about me
what about what I need?'

I can't control my husband
I am only responsible for myself and my actions

as he is his own....


but thankfully
the Lord commands and holds
both men and women to the same standards

to love and serve one anther

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit
but in humility consider others better than yourself"

Phillipians 2:3

build one another up

you are only destroying yourself
when you don't ....

you hold
the power to tear them down
or build them up



end note!!!!!

I had to add this in here as H.H read it and was
concerned I didn't feel like he encouraged me
enough...lolololol

I re-read my post
and I guess i can see what he means

that it sounds like he doesn't encourage me
and is not true, he does encourage me daily
(even when I've had a stinky attitude)

but that is not the point I was making

more like
what happens if we don't get encouraged
when WE want it
or HOW WE want it
or the WAY WE want it

(some of this is communication
between a couple)

ok, my head is spinning too fast to explain

but at the end of the day

give encouragement!!!!
regardless of what the other does