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One thing I love about Minnesotans is our toughness! We’re rather an unusual breed but I love it! No one lets a little cold weather slow us down – we just put on more clothes and off we go! There is a resilience and strength that I see around me that blesses me. I have had people tell me when they visited that they enjoyed the way we take care of one another up here in the Northland.
God has commanded us to be strong and courageous. He also tells us to love one another and be an encouragement to each other. I like what Joan Clayton from New Mexico wrote on this subject in a recent article.
BUILD EACH OTHER UP
“Bible Thought: ‘Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man’ (Colossians 4:6 KJV).
“Criticism causes fear, aggression, and defensiveness! We rarely apply criticism to ourselves. Even so called “constructive criticism” leaves a lot of doubt in our minds! Wouldn’t it be too wonderful if we were all like Barnabas? We can be.
“The father of the Prodigal son did not meet him with berating and criticism…only forgiveness! Stephen did not defend himself, nor hold any malice. On the cross, Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them.’ What if Jesus had said: ‘When you get everything perfect, then I will love you?’
“Praise and encouragement enable people to meet their goals. People that we sometimes criticize are what we might be under their circumstances. Let us refuse to criticize. Let us hold our tongues. We can do so much more with praise and encouragement. Praisers, not criticizers, bring men to Jesus!
“I have heard all of my life that ‘sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.’ That statement is absolutely false. Words destroy much worse than bruises. Withhold criticism. Instead, give praise and encouragement. Build each other up!
“Hymn: ‘Love One Another.’ Dear precious Lord, help us to put a watch over our mouths. May we only say things that build up and encourage. In Jesus’ beautiful name. Amen.”
-Joan Clayton, Portales, NM (The Bible Friend Dec. 2009) p.3
A FATHER’S KINDNESS
“Busy in his study a minister was preparing his sermon for the coming Sunday. He reached to the shelf at his side for a book, and then remembered that he had left it downstairs. His little daughter was playing in the bedroom, and he called her. She came, running, eager and delighted at the thought that Papa needed her. He explained carefully where she could find the book, and she went gladly, returning in a moment with a book which he saw at a glance was the wrong one. But he hardly looked at the book as he took it and laid it on the table. He looked only at the eager face of his little daughter, wreathed in smiles. Gathering her close to his heart, he kissed her and said, ‘Thank you, darling.’ And when she had gone back happy and contented to her play he went quietly for the book he needed. I think I should like to listen to the sermons that man would preach.”
-God’s Treasury of Virtues (Honor Books, c.2995) p. 209
Many of us are not experiencing the love and caring of this godly man listed above. In fact, even though many put on a brave face, there is a lot of people in pain among us. I wonder what life would be like if we all tried to say a word of encouragement to someone rather than a critical one. An unkind word could have crushed the beautiful child in the story above but loving kindness from her father blessed her instead.
The holidays are over and everyone is counting their shekels to see if there’s enough left to make it through the bleak cold winter months. Even though the faces of our fellow men and women may be brave, is fear and pain griping their hearts? Let’s determine to spend some time deliberately trying to encourage one person each day.
DROP A PEBBLE IN THE WATER
By James W. foley
Drop a pebble in the water:
Just a splash, and it is gone,
But there’s half-a-hundred ripples
Circling on and on and on,
Spreading, spreading from the center,
Flowing on out to the sea.
And there is no way of telling
Where the end is going to be.
Drop a pebble in the water:
In a minute you forget,
But there’s little waves a-flowing,
And there’s ripples circling yet,
And those little waves a-flowing
To a great big wave have grown;
You’ve disturbed a mighty river
Just by dropping in a stone.
Drop an unkind word, or careless:
In a minute it is gone;
But there’s half-a-hundred ripples
Circling on and on and on.
They keep spreading, spreading, spreading
From the center as they go
And there is no way to stop them,
Once you’ve started them to flow.
Drop an unkind word, or careless:
In a minute you forget:
But there’s little waves a-flowing,
And there’s ripples circling yet.
And perhaps in some sad heart
A mighty wave of tears you’ve stirred,
And disturbed a life was happy
Ere you dropped that unkind word.
Drop a word of cheer and kindness:
Just a flash and it is gone;
But there’s half-a-hundred ripples
Circling on and on and on,
Bearing hope and joy and comfort
On each splashing, dashing wave
Till you wouldn’t believe the volume
Of the one kind word you gave.
Drop a word of cheer and kindness:
In a minute you forget;
But there’s gladness still a-swelling,
And there’s joy circling yet,
And you’ve rolled a wave of comfort
Whose sweet music can be heard
Over miles and miles of water
Just by dropping one kind word.
-The Bible Friend, July 2009, p.4
