It’s a windy day today, with gusts up to 30 miles per hour. When I was out walking, going in one direction was a struggle, while going the other way was easy. Going against the wind was cold and almost discouraging.
We all have people in our lives who slow us down and discouraged us. They drain our energy and darken our mood. They keep us held back rather than moving forward.
Then we also have people in our lives that lift us up with words of encouragement. They lighten our loads and help us to swiftly move forward, often beyond where we expected to go. Their words stimulate us to do good things.
Obviously, we should strive to be encouragers ourselves. We should seek to lighten the burdens that others carry and help them move forward. The people who climb Mt. Everest are indebted to a group of people called Sherpas. Sherpas live in the Himalayan mountains and have adapted to those heights. They are the ones who carry the heavy loads and prepare the trails. Without the Sherpas most climbers would never make it to the summit. They need the encouragement and support of this hearty group.
Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “and let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Since we all need encouragement and things go better for all with encouragement, let’s each one try to encourage someone every day.
Reluctant Retiree 