Encourager or Discourager

I have had the benefit of having many encouragers in my life over the last few years.  As I struggled with my mom's Alzheimer's and eventual passing, my dad's declining health and passing, my husband's health issues, and just the usual events that life throws at us, I have had a church family and dear friends who have stood beside me and encouraged me in some of my darkest times.  They surrounded me with prayers, kind words, cards, phone calls at those times when life looked its bleakest.  I know that was God working in the lives of others to bless me and my family.  The lesson I learned through all of that was life gives us opportunites to be either encouragers or discouragers.  You know who the discouragers are.  They never have a kind word.  They are constantly complaining about something, and it is usually over petty things.  I sometimes wonder if they are ever happy because it seems they are just looking for something to be negative about.  We are bombarded by discouragers.  Do you watch the news?  Is it encouraging or discouraging?  I sometimes cannot believe how discouraging our culture has become.

I know that I do not ever want to be seen as a discourager.  It is so easy to fall into the trap of being a discourager, especially if everyone around me is being negatie.  I have made a conscious effort at looking for ways that I can be an encourager to someone, especially the people I am around that are leaders--my minister, elders, deacons, and bosses at work.  I know that they all have to deal with a lot of discouragers. If you have not encouraged one of them lately, I challenge you to do so today.  Write your church leaders a note encouraging them in their faith.  Tell your boss how much you appreciate his/her leadership.  You will be amazed at what kind and encouraging words can do to brighten someone's day. 

If we all lived our lives under the conviction of Ephesians 4:29--  Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up others according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen--what a different world it would be.  That is my challenge to me and to you!  May God bless you as look for ways to be an encourager, and may He stifle the next time we are tempted to be a discourager.