Comments on: Encouraging Words

By: Laurie Neumann

Laurie Neumann — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 15:25:44 +0000

Praise God! Brad, what you have shared is wonderful – Seeing a quality you aren’t strong in and choosing to display it because that is how Jesus was.

I think sometimes, males in particular (no offense intended!) like to “fix” things for people. I know my husband and I joke about that. When I share a problem he gets into “fixing” mode and I”d like him to be in “listening and caring” mode:-)

Thanks so much for sharing, Brad.

By: Brad Harmon

Brad Harmon — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 03:40:35 +0000

Laurie,

I am not naturally a caring person, or maybe I should say that I am not someone who naturally displays it. I have been trained as a problem finder and once I find the problem I fix it. It is so easy for me to get wrapped up in processes and systems that most of the time I forget about the people who use them.

A while back I came to the conclusion that I come across as a negative person because of this mindset- and rightfully so. For many months now I have been actively seeking out people to whom I could give words of encouragement. It felt very contrived and I struggled with it until I decided to read just the red letters in the Bible.

Christ was such a great encourager. Through the process I learned what true humility was all about. For years I would pretend not to be good at something or use self-deprecating humor to appear humble. Through Christ’s example I found that humility really means taking yourself out of the equation all together.

It did not matter that it felt contrived to me when I spoke words of encouragment to someone, but rather how it felt to them. I still have a long way to go to be labeled an encourager, but it is a journey that I am finding easier to make after each compliment.

Brad

By: Laurie Neumann

Laurie Neumann — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 13:48:14 +0000

Natalie,
Thanks so much for sharing with us. I really believe that encouraging words can make such a difference. I, too, am trying to share them whenever given the opportunity.

Blessings to you.

By: Natalie

Natalie — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 03:04:03 +0000

I too have been the recipient of encouraging words and I always try to encourage others. This post reminded me of a time when I was very weary and broken; my daughter was just diagnosed as disabled and the therapies and appointments had me at my wits end. At church when someone asked how I was, I finally told the truth. To this day I will not forget her response : “God will not give you more than you can handle.” Those words have gotten me thriough the last 16 years.

By: Janice

Janice — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 20:13:44 +0000

AMEN. I HAVE DEALT WITH DEPRESSION OVER THE YEARS AND HEARING SOMEONE SAY SOMETHING POSITIVE ABOUT YOU OR ENCOURAGING YOU IN SOME AREA IS A REAL UPLIFT TO THE SPIRIT AND THE HEART AND THE MIND. AGAIN AMEN

By: Laurie Neumann

Laurie Neumann — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 23:24:37 +0000

Thanks for stopping by, Karen. It was a great article!

By: Karen

Karen — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 22:01:15 +0000

Thanks so much for your kind words in the comment you left about the article I wrote called “Pilgrimmage.” I am so glad to know it has encouraged you.

Take care,
Karen Lowe

By: JoJo Tabares

JoJo Tabares — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 20:02:31 +0000

Amen! The Lord speaks hundreds and hundreds of times about communication in His Word.