I like the sounds of your childhood Patti, and can see you in it! It causes me to think that Encouragement may not always be just words, but can be things we do to build people. A favorite thought I have surrounding the subject is how any kind of a leader, and I think of church leaders, can either choose to be, prefer to be, and be, always the one seen, heard, listened to, or...he or she can be one who builds others not always and only by talking, speaking, preaching, teaching, but also by giving...others opportunity to "be" and "become" also, someone who can...give. The conclusion here would be: will people grow and become more of what we tell them to or give them opportunity to? Kind of like the difference between telling your teen how to drive and providing them hands on practice, or the difference between telling kids to find something to do so they will be happy and content and doing the things with them that we tell them can be fun and enjoyable and worthwhile. (Don't take me wrong Tom; your words are so good and needed and "do" open the door to other people, which is very good!)
Again, Love the subject Tom as always! You always come up with a word that holds some thought and wisdom behind it...some spiritual truth, and that's what we all need, some truth for our soul, remembering that Jesus said we don't live by earthly bread alone, but by the bread of heaven that provides "Life" for our soul or heart! And this bread isn't merely human niceness, but it's something far more that reaches inside us like a big lantern shining into the dark that turns the "Life" switch on! Let's tell the truth...We "all" are needing, wanting that "something more" that we feel there must be to life! Something that a great meal at Red Lobster doesn't provide; something that even a day on the yaght in sunny Hawaii can't provide! There's a certain something that when you get it, it fills you up in a way that you aren't starving to death in 8 hours again! Something that fills the longing soul, and makes you feel full inside in a different place than the old gut; in a place that when it gets full, it doesn't become empty but only fuller! You know what I mean right?
This is where thought of "Encouragement" leads me; it's a spiritual gift that comes with "charismata" or power; when it's given it triggers life in another in a place where they may be having no life or feeling lifeless. It brings to life something that is suffering in another, and as always with God's gifts, there is a certain bit of self sacrifice when we give them; because we are giving solely for the sake of building someone else up; it's something like giving a bit of yourself up or away, like abasing yourself in some way, in order that life will flow to the other person. Whether you look at it naturally or spiritually, the good gifts of God still work their work and bring their life! Amen?
From Midnight Watch, Where the Still,
Small voice can be heard, Kim