“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up” (1 Thessalonians 5:11).
“Encourage: to inspire with courage, spirit, or hope : hearten” (Merriam Webster).
Two of the former young men with their wives and children joined us for supper recently. Afterwards, we came to our small apartment. Even before Laurence unlocked the door, I heard the dads telling the children to take off their shoes as soon as we entered the foyer. The children ran off to play, and we settled into the soft chairs for hot tea and talk. The visit encouraged us. I want these two couples to know that they are doing well with child training. The toys were picked up before they left and the coverlet used for playing bear 🐻 folded nicely on the bed. The children thanked me for the evening, and there’s a picture from the four-year-old on the fridge.
The email asked if I would edit a book of Anabaptist women writer profiles. The publisher Sheila Petra, encouraged me by saying I had done a good job earlier with typing up the profiles. Yesterday, she sent me a draft of the book cover. Sheila, by her encouragement, makes me want to write.
I want to be an encouragement to other writers. I think of the young people, Elizabeth and Josiah Akinyombo, and their brilliant 10-minute writes that outshone mine. The women of my writing group have amazing talent, especially when it comes to poetry (which I have no talent for).
Talk about talent: We are gifted in New York City with talented outreach workers. We have an interesting, sincere, and unique group of attendees at the Sugar Hill Mennonite Mission services because of a song, a tract, and a word for Jesus. By God’s grace, you’re doing well mission and tract workers!
A Whatsapp chat with my brothers, one with friends, and another with the writing group often encourages me. But not all whatsapps are encouraging. It behooves me to message to encourage, to build each other up.
People respond to encouragement. I want to be an encourager: “I like your dress. That sermon was just what I needed. The dessert is delicious. Thanks for the coffee. You do so well.”
Tell an experience where someone encouraged you. Berniece
An Ordinary Life 
I had someone tell me recently, “Thank-you, Friend”
That meant a lot to me.
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