For some, it might not seem like a lot. For me, it feels huge. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.}
Encouragement is a powerful thing.
It can spread like wildfire from one person to the next, if only someone will start it all off. What it is, really, is God's love, sparking inside us, giving us that appreciation for others in our lives. And perhaps, even an appreciation for our own selves. That's really the hardest part.
Accepting encouragement, love and praise when we know inside how dirty and messed up things really are. But if you can accept that, if you can fill up on the joy that it brings to hear "well done!", you just might be able to pour that encouragement into someone else....and someone else, and someone else.
Recently a friend and I were talking about the exhaustion of pregnancy and motherhood, and she confided: "Even though I tell other moms its ok to let the house get messy, to have take out for dinner, to just take a break and do the bare minimum, I can't do that myself." And it struck me that so often we have a softer way of viewing those around us, their flaws and failings, than we do ourselves.
I see this in my own life: blind panic if I make a mistake, certain that others are seeing and enumerating my failures. Beating myself up for the smallest of infractions. Calling myself names. This is self sabotage. It will never make things better.
Its time to really trust God, to strip away self -hatred and see ourselves as who He says we are...and turn our backs on the lies we tell ourselves. Only from there can we pass on the grace and be the blessing.
Its not going to be easy, but won't you try it with me? Accept who He says you are and pass on that love and encouragement to those around you.
Thank you for encouraging me. I agree so much with your friend. I constantly tell my friends the thins I should put to practice in my own life! I know that God loves me and that He wants me to love myself. It is time to really trust HIM!
ReplyDeleteYES! Lydia, I will join you on this. It is a struggle to do this everyday, but it makes such a difference.
ReplyDeleteHi Lydia. Lovely words. I discovered you at (in)Courage, just FYI!
ReplyDeleteYes, how easy it has always been for me to encourage others -very sincerely - yet hold my own self up to a different standard. Label myself with names that I wouldn't dare name someone else. What odd hypocrites we as women can sometimes be - not thinking we're 'better' than others - thinking we're less than others. You're right - it's all lies. We have to be still and listen to that voice...not all that worldly 'noise'& chatter around us that the enemy cranks up to confuse & distract us. But the still, small voice from deep within us. It's not very loud, yet resounding; constant. And certain. Even when we aren't. That's where our confidence lies, right?! ;-) We are God's daughters - Daughters of the King! That makes us royalty, instead of the garbage we treat ourselves as! (I may have to blog that! (with a tag-back, of course!) Thanks for the inspiration, Lydia! ;-)