Photo by sydney Rae on Unsplash
In commending a friend about their
ability to encourage, their capacity for encouragement, they explained with
profound simplicity the wherewithal:
‘I’m learning to speak promptly when God leads
and not just think good things about people.’
— Katherine Huxley
and not just think good things about people.’
— Katherine Huxley
See the profundity in this
statement?
Immediately I sensed that this is
the key to being an encourager. Yes, it requires the abiding heart. Yes, it
requires the ability to discern the opportunity of knowing when something
noteworthy has been done by someone — ‘when God leads’. But how often do we see
something good done, with a good heart that sees good done, and not pipe up? Of
course, then there’s the delivery too — to deliver an encouragement that will
hit the target with the kind and gentle power of love.
There’s a spirit of boldness, or of
giving, in every encouragement delivered. This is speaking promptly, without
delay, which is the sense of faith to execute what the heart sees. To just do
it. This is a trust in our ability to say a thing for love’s sake, even if
occasionally it will come out wrong, which is doubly powerful when we chase the
error up and amend it in flow.
To speak promptly is to see and
then to love in the immediacy of the moment. This is a good training tool for any
disciple of Christ — especially if one is keen to grow in the practice of
gratitude — for what else is gratitude than the speaking of good things for
love?
Learning to speak promptly when God
leads and not just thinking good things about people is a commitment to love,
for thinking good things about people is admirable and desirable, but it’s also
insufficient if we wish to make a difference as difference-makers in our world.
Certainly, thinking good things
about people is incredibly wise on the journey of life.
The capacity and resolve to act
promptly on the Lord’s leading is the key to giving loving encouragement.
There’s hardly a more loving thing
to do than to encourage someone. An act of random kindness, a smile, a kind
word, the uttering of something virtuous for a virtue seen in another,
thankfulness for another’s gift. All these and more are the practice of
holiness.
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