The Kindness of Friends



A few weeks ago, as we began another day of homeschool, we heard a knock at our front door.  Half of us were still pajamafied, while the other half of us were dressed for the day. 

Good enough to answer the door, I thought.

We opened the door to find a dear friend with a bouquet of fresh flowers for me!  She was a mentor mom in our MOPS group back in the day.  What a happy surprise!  She even included a note encouraging me for the beginning of the homeschool year.

There's just something extra-special about knowing someone was thinking about me.  When I receive a personal card in the mail, a note on Facebook, or a bouquet of fresh flowers, it pumps up the positive in my day.

Later, I found out this same woman went around and shared kindnesses with several other women I had attended MOPS with several years back.  Each of us has at least one school-aged child now, and  we've lost contact with some or all of our MOPS friends.

To be encouraged is fantastic!

But to be an encourager, that is even better!  This impromptu flower deliver has helped me realize how important it is to encourage my friends and family, and to make sure they know how much I love and appreciate them.
 
I need to take some steps toward being a better encourager this week.  But I'm going to be realistic.  When I set out to do something, most times I have plans that are too big and I get discouraged when I can't accomplish what I've set out to do.  So I'll start small.


Three things:

1.  Write one encouraging note to a friend and mail it.

2.  Make one phone call to a friend I haven't spoken to in a while.

3.  Praise each of my family members for something good they have done.


It may take me a month to do all 3 things, but I will do it!


I encourage you to make a short (very short, doable) list of ways you can encourage others this month.


Do you have any more suggestions for simple ways to encourage someone?  Please share!



"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."   Proverbs 27:17




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