Encouragers: The Lady Who Smiles
October 3, 2022
Some days you just need to be encouraged. Most often, you don’t realize how important this encouragement is to your mood until someone does encourage you. As Christians we are admonished to be encouragers. As iron sharpens iron, we are to help each other: build each other up, edify, support, and speak truth in love.
There’s a sweet lady who serves as a greeter at our church. Her smile is absolutely beautiful. The power of truth in her joy radiates from this smile to warm your heart as soon as you notice her standing at the doorway. She always says good morning and is far better with names that I am as she often greets people by their first names. (I try to be good with names, it’s something I’m training myself to do, but I often mix up my own kids or call moms by their daughter’s names and quickly attempt correction by saying, so-and-so’s mom – who am I kidding?)
I was feeling rather low this particular Sunday morning. A lot has been pressing down on my heart lately – mostly financial, but then, that is a constant mental fight for me. It goes something like this: Look how poor you are; you can’t even go to xyz (one of the girls’ gymnastics meets, a sister-cousin’s party, a group trip to some amusement park, etc.). You didn’t send them to Passion Camp this year. You don’t even own a house. Such a failure, your dream was stability for your children so they would have a home. You left a good-paying job… twice. You chose less and your children pay for it by having to work for the things other kids just get. You have to eat what the food bank gives you. You pick up underwear from a giveaway group! How selfish can you be to work where you enjoy rather than in a career that would provide better for your children?
I fight that with: I am so thankful for fellow gym moms allowing my girls to carpool and enjoy their friend-time. They enjoyed sister-time this summer. God has provided a house for us where my dream of family being close is a reality! I am chosen by God. I chose family and integrity, respectively. My children value the things they have to work for and as they understand the concept of having to work for a gift they give, they appreciate every gift they get more! God supplies our needs each week. I’m so thankful for my hand-me-down giving and receiving friends and the Buy-Nothing group! I have my dream job and am so super thankful for it; A Christian boss who allows me to bring my children when needed, we work schoolwork at the front desk, we’ve relied on work internet for accessing schoolwork courses and even the renting of our home more than a few times, my girls all have had an awesome first job experience, I work for family!
At those times when my mind is a mental battlefield and I force myself to dig deep into thankfulness (I think or speak my “I’m thankful fors”), a little encouragement goes a long way. Just the fact that the smiling lady at the church doorway remembers my name correctly and can connect me with my girls (who beat us there, again, even though we left first!) gives me such encouragement! When she says something like “you are such a good mother!” and I can feel the truth in her compliment, it is all I can do to respond with “thank you” and not cry. I’m so grateful to God for the currently uncountable times the sweet lady has lifted my mood and encouraged me – I end up thanking God for her and that He knows my mental battles. He knows that small gesture means the world to me.
I walk in, I worship, I walk out, and usually I feel invisible. That’s okay to me on the surface because it is so challenging for me to approach someone because I’m so scared of messing up with social interaction with other adults. It’s the walk to the church gym that makes my head rise – I’m so totally ready to serve children. Put me in front of children and I’m super confident! (mom, coach, kid’s ministry assistant, leader, etc.)
I know how much a small bit of encouragement helps me so when God touches my heart to say something to another adult, I have been listening lately. A compliment, a congratulations, a mention of how well-behaved their child was, encouragement that they are doing a good job as so-and-so has accomplished xyz goal… That is so super hard for me as a human! I can only encourage other adults because Jesus gives me strength!
(If you ever reflect on my interactions with you and you have a child I know, notice I often talk to the child first? Yes, I’m so much more comfortable starting with the little ones!)
My challenge to myself is always to listen to God’s nudge of a quiet voice and offer encouragement to whomever He leads into my path. I make it my challenge to you. Encourage. Even a smile and “Good Morning!” goes a long way sometimes! I’m speaking from my own personal experience. What you are really saying to that person is “I see you.”
Thank you to those who serve as greeters at our Good News Church! Thank you for those who know my name! Thank you for making me feel seen. Thank you for encouraging me and helping me pass that on and encourage others. If you are an encourager; KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!
Thank you for reading,
Type at you next time!
~Nancy Tart