Wednesday, October 8, 2014

By:  Gwen Hitt

Being There ... In Words and Actions

1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build up one another.

Last weekend, my six-year old granddaughter participated in a Spelling Bee ... her very first one. I am not sure how she found out about this event which was held at the local library, but I do know that this is all she talked about ... thought about ... dreamed about. 

She could not wait to be a part of it UNTIL she actually walked into the large room and saw the judges, the other participants, the audience. She quickly turned WIDE-EYED to her mother and whispered that she ONLY wanted to watch ... she didn't want to participate!

My daughter immediately reminded her of her prior excitement ... explained that the other children were also a little nervous ... ENCOURAGED her as we are told to do in today's scripture. At first, nothing that my daughter said seemed to make a difference. THEN, my granddaughter SLOWLY stood up, took a DEEP breath, and in a SHAKY voice agreed to report to the seating area for the participants.

As I watched her BRAVELY walk to her assigned seat TIGHTLY holding her mother's hand, I began to reflect on the importance of BEING THERE for others IN WORDS and IN ACTIONS when they stop short of achieving their dreams. Often their decision not to pursue what they know ... what you know to be a God-given plan for their lives is often based on the FEAR of the unknown, FEAR of failure.

Your encouragement can be the deciding factor in whether or not someone in your life is able to achieve his or her dream. My challenge to you today is to grab hold of that individual's hand as my daughter did for her little girl in order to provide the support NEEDED to take those last critical steps to success. Always know that BEING THERE for others may actually be a big part of the plan God has for your own life, the very reason He put them in your path!

Dear Lord, Help me to always be an encourager to those You are placing in my life. Let me be a vessel used by You to spur them on to the achievement of their dreams.

I thank You Jesus for dying for me. I believe that You are Lord and that God raised You from the grave so that I can have eternal life.

Reflection: Although my granddaughter did not win the spelling bee, she walked away with a greater accomplishment. She was able (with loving encouragement) to fight through her fear and accomplish her goal, AND she is now looking forward to next year's event. My daughter responded to God's call to encourage someone in her life who was in desperate need of support. Are you helping others to reach their dreams by BEING THERE for them, IN WORDS and IN ACTIONS?