National Day of Encouragement

Everyone can use words of encouragement and kindness.  When the storms of life beat us down, or at least don't seem to let up, a person's spirit gets weary and contemplates giving up.  This is sad news because often we never know how close we are to our next breakthrough of blessing.  The timing could be within the very day we are struggling, the next week, or sooner than is expected.  Also, the practice of giving encouragement is a virtue due to the fact one never knows what secret battle the person is waging.  Everything could look okay on the exterior, but this may betray a heavy heart and idea engaging life is not worth the heartache or effort invested.  For the very art of encouragement, I prefer the old-fashioned term exhortation.  The definition of exhortation is to address or communicate emphatically urging someone to do something.  That very something may be simply to keep pressing onward in life amidst obstacles and trials.  Proverbs 15:23 (ESV) states, "To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is!"  Become a person of encouragement.  It brings healing to the person who hears, and is a fountain of living water to the one speaking words of delight  Encouraging someone, including oneself, doesn't have to exist only on a certain day out of the year.  Make it a practice every day.  Don't give up or give in.  Keep pressing forward.

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