Encouraged

This morning, the prayer that’s resounding in my heart is this: God, use me to uplift and encourage and never to hurt others.

Nothing upsets me more than when I say or do something that hurts another.

Recently, we were on spring break vacation. My 8-year-old son was in his own little world and ignoring my pleas to stop misbehaving. Finally, I told him he wasn’t making vacation very fun because of the way he was behaving. This quickly caused a change in his behavior, and I soon forgot the rebuke. We went on to have a great time.

The following Sunday morning, we were rushing to load into the car for church. My son turned to me and with a very sad look on his face said, “Mom, I don’t make things no fun. Do I?” As any loving mom would, I responded, “No, honey. You’re alot of fun.” Then, he called me to task by saying, “But, Mom, you said I wasn’t making vacation fun. I am fun!” The pitch of his voice rose at the end just before he broke out into tears. I rushed to him, wrapping my arms around him, telling him how sorry I was for making him feel that way. We talked it over, and I explained that he is a gift from God that fills my life with lots of happiness.

Needless to say, the experience made me think alot about the little things I say to others. Considering the hurt I can cause others with a sharp or misconstrued word, makes me want to cut my tongue out sometimes (figuratively…not literally).

I want to encourage you to join me in a renewed emphasis upon daily encouraging and uplifting others. Also, to place a guard on our words…lest we hurt others.

So, find someone today that you can say something encouraging to. Tell someone how special they are, how they’ve helped you, or what a great example they are to others. If someone looks down in the dumps, encourage them.

May our words be loving and kind, gracious and good…never hurtful.