practical ways to encourage
A couple weekends ago I drove to Kansas with my sister for another Craft Weekend. Meg & Kimberlee (who host the weekends) are such an encouragement to me. It isn’t really one thing in particular, but a combination of who they are and how they live that leaves me feeling refreshed and encouraged. A weekend full of amazing food and crafting doesn’t hurt either!
I’ve been thinking a lot about encouragement. Ways I am encouraged. Ways I can encourage others. Not the cheerleader type, but the type of encouragement that is real and gritty. Some of the greatest encouragement I’ve received from friends has been when they’ve called me out on something. Questioned me and kind of given me a swift kick in the rear. I need that kind of encouragement. I also need thoughtful notes, a random kind text, a surprise package in the mail. Little things that are actually big things.
My friend Emily and her friend KK host retreats for women centered on the idea of encouraging others. I asked Emily what are practical ways women have encouraged her. This is her response,
“I am always impacted by women sharing their honest struggles. Whether it’s face to face while having coffee, or a snapshot in my instagram feed. Honesty is the only way I feel like I can survive this stage of my life. It’s encouragement, when others tell me that they too are struggling. When someone shares that their life isn’t perfect, it’s a direct reminder to me that none of our lives are. Our struggles may all look different, but they are struggles none-the-less. Being honest in what we share has become a passion of mine. We can all learn from one another and the journeys we are taking.”
I loved that response. Honesty is encouragement. This weekend Jami Nato and her family stopped by my house on their drive home from Texas. It was the first time we’ve met in person. I greeted her & her family with something on my face (didn’t realize it at the time) and my house was a complete mess due to new room construction and moving other rooms around. I think I apologized too many times for the mess. I also told her more than she wanted to know about how baby chickens are made. When she left I thought to myself, “she is never going to want to stop by here again!” But maybe the honesty of my home encouraged her. I’ll read Emily’s words and pretend Jami left here encouraged.
When I visit a friend and see laundry on the living room chair or dishes in the sink, I sigh a little relief. One, I am grateful for close friends that let me see the ‘real’. Two, I’m grateful I’m not the only one that doesn’t always have a perfectly clean home. I like the realness of it. More than that, I like friends that will share with me their realness.
I want friends that don’t pretend to have it all together. Friends that don’t expect me to have it all together, but also challenge me when they see areas of my life I need to change. I’m so grateful for friends that take the time to encourage me in so many different ways.
A couple weeks ago, I asked you what your moms did to foster great relationships with you. Today…I’m curious what are some of the practical ways others have encouraged you. So, please take a minute today to brag about someone that has encouraged you. Give the rest of us ideas on how we can be vessels of encouragement to others!
For those anywhere near Texas, Emily and KK’s next retreat is Sept. 19th and there are a few spots left. You can find more details by clicking the links below:
Blog * Website * IG @flourishretreat * Facebook
