Filling With Courage

Our family went to visit several friends last weekend in another city. We try to make these trips as often as we can, which feels like never. Why does life keep whispering that we are too busy for things like this? For the things that really matter? And just like all the times before, we come home tired but completely refreshed, scratching our heads as to why it felt so hard in the first place.

The friends we visited were from what feels like another lifetime ago, before we came to serve at Whisper Mountain Camp. These friends are the cream of the crop, the real deals, the kind of people we look forward to seeing, don't stress about having it all together for, and walk away stronger than when we showed up.

Coming home, my thoughts were in a tangle over how thankful I am for such supportive people surrounding us and then realizing how desperately I need to up my game in offering the same kind of support to others. To encourage is to fill with courage. Our family has been filled with courage to continue the work we do because of the time spent with people who aren't so big on talking certain words but are huge on embracing us as we are. I don't know about you, but I want to be a supportive person, looking for ways to embrace and encourage others too.

A simple way to encourage is to thank them for who they are to you! Send encouragement to someone who's been on your mind. Text them, call them, email them or mail them a note. Once upon a time I was a big note sender. sigh. I want to be again. Whatever your way is, let's just get encouraging somebody!

What's your favorite way to show others you support them?