It’s 4am and I’m hiding the glow of the computer screen from a deep sleeping boy. His fever has hit 103, his body radiating heat and smells of sickness. But now he sleeps peacefully next to me. I’m strangely awake and check to see the five-minute Friday prompt. Encouragement. I look down at him. And back to this screen. And with everything in me, I know this word matters.
Not in some rah-rah you can do it way. (footnote, see below!)
But in the deep, desperate places. To offer courage to someone when they have none for themselves.
To see someone’s despair and say you are not alone. To walk with someone when they circle in the wilderness. To remove blinders that have impaired one’s vision. To replace lies with truth. To be a road sign pointing to hope when confidence has slipped away.
To offer a cup of cold water and a washcloth to a fever that rages.
Encouragement weaves in and out of our days. From kind words from an acquaintance that remind us of who we are, of who we are made to be. To a devoted friend who fights battles for us when we are too exhausted.
When I am close to Him, encouragement is overflowing, forceful waters. But when I’m not, my offerings dry up. I hoard my words and my gifts with a scarcity mentality.
Oh Father may I cling to you so that my soul is aware of your movement. That I may respond the ways you invite. Lift my eyes up that I may see where my hope comes from. Abounding hope. Overflowing from me to you. And back again.
Footnote: I know a rule of FMF is no over editing, but after re-reading this morning wanted to say there are times I need a cheerleader, someone saying “go, you can do it! ” Like when we were in South Carolina over Christmas. At Chuck E Cheese and I was trying to beat my husband at a gorilla vibrating game. My nephews and niece cheering “Go Aunt Melanie” was surely encouaragement…and allowed me to hold on longer than him! It is an important part of encouraging….just not what came to mind at 4am this morning while watching my son 🙂
Linking today with Five Minute Friday. Prompt is Encouragement. Go write for five minutes on the word, no over-editing, no second guessing.
Oh Melanie! Nothing is worse than seeing a child suffer. I pray that fever breaks ASAP and that today will be filled with health and restoration.
I am visiting from Lisa-Jo’s place.
God bless you an your son!
Beth
This is a beautiful description of encouragement. May we offer courage to those around us who do not have it for themselves. That has been me in the past & how grateful I was to have someone come alongside of me. May He give us eyes to see those we can encourage each day. This was such a beautiful post & encouraged me this morning. Prayed for your son before leaving a comment that God would strengthen his body & restore health. So glad that I stopped here from Lisa Jo’s! Blessings!
Thanks for this……hope S gets to feeling better quickly….
Oh yes, it matter so much! I’m so grateful for those who seek to actively encourage. I’m so sorry your little boy is unwell, I pray that he feels better soon and that you’re able to rest. Stopping by from FMF 🙂
Melanie, you seem to be embodied hope for Samuel as he sleeps in healing rest. May he drink the cool cup of your prayers and mother love, sleeping and waking, soon to be healed.
Renie
Hi Melanie – yes – you are spot on here. This is encouragement that I have seen; encouragement that matters to me. This is where God shows up. Where He overflows from our lives as we draw near to Him. Thank you for sharing this. So glad to have found you in the FMF community!
Amen! Amen! Amen! . “To offer courage to someone when they have none for themselves” — so powerful. I have a friend who has told me time and time again, when I have told her I’ve felt hopeless, that she’s holding on to hope for me. I cannot put into words how much that has meant to me. A picture of bearing with and carrying one another’s burdens if ever there was one…
How weird — I was up in the 4:00am hour as well! I’m sorry your buddy was sick. I love the idea of offering courage, a road sign to hope, these are beautiful and true. It is so easy to minimize their importance, but if you’ve ever been “circling in the wilderness” you know how valuable a road sign is! Thanks for sharing today! (Stopping by with FMF.)
Dear Melanie,
God bless you and your family today. Thank you for your stunning words – soul-food and nourishment for me! I pray your son’s fever breaks and he wakes up refreshed.
Melanie,
Even at 4 am, you still express yourself so well 🙂 and you are so right about how God needs to be our source of encouragement for us to truly encourage others…praying your son is feeling better and you stay healthy 🙂