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Melanie from This Ain't New York
"Why you may never know what happened to the ants in my kitchen."
You were supposed to be reading about how ants overtook my kitchen last summer. It was going to be a lovely, spiritual, whimsical parody until about 7:00 last night.
It had been a long day, one in which I honestly cannot remember how I got from Point A to Point Z. ( I know it is supposed to be Point B, but I passed that a long time ago.)
I called my dear friend and got her voice mail. When the recording asked me to leave a message, I just hung up. Before I could put down my phone she was calling me back.
"What's up?" she asked.
As tears welled up in my tired eyes, I said, "I just need some encouragement."
I am usually the one offering encouragement to others. I love sending cards and giving hugs. When I need encouragement, I keep silent.
Until last night when I called my friend.
She didn't ask why I needed encouraging. She didn't ask why. Partly, it was because she knew; she's my best friend. She's also my sister in Christ.
Encouraging words spilled from her heart right there over the phone line. She listened and offered advice, but most of all, she accepted me for who I am, an imperfect woman, saved by the Perfect Love of Christ.
By the end of the call, we were laughing. She gave me a few tips for some of the tasks I have ahead of me- including finding a special outfit for an occasion this weekend. She even offered her own clothes…
"I have this nice blouse that I would let you borrow, but it would probably be too big for you."
That, dear friends, is some serious Christian exhortation.
God's Word tells us that believers need each other. We are not here to go through life alone.
“Just as our bodies have many parts that has a special function, so it is with Christ's body. We are all parts of his one body, and each of us has different work to do. And since we are all one body in Christ,we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others.” Romans 12: 4-5 (NLT)
Do you need some encouragement? Don't be afraid to ask. A Christian friend is willing to offer you some loving, Godly advice. (And maybe even let you borrow her clothes.)
Our prayer is that you will find encouragement here each day.
“I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit.” Ephesians 3:16 (NLT)
May You Have Joy in His Name,
Melanie
posted by Melanie @ This Ain't New York @ 8:26 PM
11 Comments:
Oh, Melanie.
Almost one year ago today my baby boy was born, and within twenty minutes almost died in my arms. He turned blue. I screamed, they rushed him to the NICU, where he stayed for two weeks.
Two of my best girlfriends were in the room at the time - I know God placed them there, because I was too freaked out to pray, but I knew they had it covered.
After it was all over, they said to me, "You know Missy, this is just something that God is going to use for you to encourage other moms who go through stuff like this."
For a brief moment, I almost forgot that my baby almost died, almost forgot that he might be brain damaged, and looked at them and said, "You think? Because I have been praying for God to make me an Encourager..."
It is SUCH a blessing to be encouraged, and it is SUCH a blessing to be an encourager...
How amazing that our God takes our pain and uses it to bless his daughters.
Bless you for this post.
Thank you for sharing. As someone who is very much on the giving end of care and encouragement, as a spiritual gift and in ministry, it's very hard to admit when I need it or ask someone else and accept their care.
I have recently been going through just such a time, and God has been teaching me the importance of reaching out to others for their encouragement to me.
We were not meant to be Lone Rangers in this journey!
What Mocha with Linda just said in that last line--it's one of my mottos. I am working on being more of a giver than a taker, but I am a slow learner. Great post.
Thanks for sharing with us today. I do wish we could hear about the ants though... :)
What great exhortation to be there for each other in this sisterhood.
Beautiful story. You have much depth to not only your writing, but to your heart. Your desire to be an encouragement to others oozes out of everything you've posted here. Thanks for sharing and for being an encourager yourself. The biggest desire of my heart (next to being a mommy someday) is to bring hope and encouragement to those that need it in a hard time. I've gone through my own share of really rough times and sometimes continue to do so. I love knowing that there are others out there, with the same heart for people as I have. You're a kindred spirit Melanie. And clearly a sister in Christ! Glad I came over here and read this!
Amen! Thanks,Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com
Thank you for sharing this! I just experienced that this morning with our Ladies' Small Group...encouragement just oozes from them...and today I needed it!
Thanks for the encouraging word. That's a sure sign of an encourager, using one's discouragement to encourage others!!
Great post. It amazes me how easy it is to know that I need encouraging, yet I miss the opportunities God puts in my path to encourage others. Thanks for your reminder.
http://hiswhisperings.wordpress.com
you turned to a modern day Dorcas....and you are a modern day Dorcas...(see Monday's post;)) It was wonderful to read your post....so real and such a great reminder that we all possess the power to disciple and encourage, even in the "daily~ness" of life!
peace,
lori
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It is good to hear from you... thank you so very much for leaving a note on the table. That makes us smile!
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