(04.26.21 – Encouragement! – Ezra 5:1-2)
My friend, may I ask you a question? There's the old adage that people crave only two things more than money and sex: recognition and praise. If people need it so badly, why are we hoarding it within us?
My friend, Life’s a story, welcome to This Passing Day. I'm M. Clifford Brunner.
Recently I stopped at a local sandwich shop with my wife to buy a sandwich and enjoy an hour or so of quiet time together. Sandwich shops, like any other "fast" food establishment, have frontline people. It's the smiling face at the cash register that greets you with a "May I help you?" and finishes with "Your order will be up soon." When my wife and I had stepped in front of the "May we take your order?" sign, we knew what we wanted so there was little need to scan the menu board behind the clerk. We rattled off our order and handed the clerk our debit card. As Holly handed the card to the young lady, there was something about her that simply fascinated me. She had not stopped smiling pleasantly since we had walked in the door. It wasn't that fake sort of disinterested and practiced smile; it was a real, genuine happy smile. She spoke softly but clearly as she handled our card and the receipt with confidence and care. I looked at her jumper and saw the name "April" on her name tag. As we began to step away from the counter I stopped and returned. "April. You have a wonderful smile and I enjoyed buying that sandwich from you. Thank you for serving us." The little clerk looked up at me with that same smile and a slight glisten in her eyes. "You're Welcome. Nobody ever tells me that."
"Nobody ever tells me that." Those words surged into my heart at that moment and a question came to mind. Why DON'T we tell people that; like the bumper sticker "Commit Random Acts of Kindness?" Why don't we get up every day with the predisposition to go out into our jobs, homes and places of business with one of our primary goals being to be encouragers? The opportunities are everywhere around us. People are hungry for words of encouragement. There's the old adage that people crave only two things more than money and sex: recognition and praise. If people need it so badly, why are we hoarding it within us?
The Bible gives us many examples of the power of encouragement; none more apparent than the story of the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem when God's people returned from captivity in Babylon. It was a big job. It would take skill, time and resources, all of which were available in limited quantities. Yet, they got the job done on time. Why? I would like to think it was many random acts of kindness committed by "God's prophets" as they daily walked among the workers, the carpenters and masons, encouraging them, complimenting and praising their working spirit. They became conduits of God's grace by which each worker could individually taste the love of God. And, that's what we are when we go out-of-our way to be encouragers. Be a "nobody" today. Tell SOMEONE you care–when it seems nobody else does.
We pray. Heavenly Father, You give us many examples of the power of encouragement in Your Word; none more apparent than the story of the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem when God's people returned from captivity in Babylon. It was a big job. taking skill, time and resources, all of which were available in limited quantities. Yet, it got done. Why? Random acts of kindness committed by "God's prophets" as they daily walked among the workers, the carpenters and masons, encouraging them, complimenting and praising their working spirit. Forgive us Lord when we forget that You have purposed us to do the same; we so often don’t. By Your Spirit Lord help us to tell someone we care today–when it seems nobody else does. In Jesus name we pray. Amen!
Therefore my friend, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry for itself; each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt 6:34) This Passing Day. May this passing day honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and be a blessing to you and everyone you meet. Find a stranger and say hello. Don't let another day pass without your day blessing someone else.
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<thispassingday@gmail.com> From Beech Springs, God bless you for Jesus sake.