1 Thessalonians 5:11
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
It is said that it takes ten positive strokes or comments to erase one negative one. Allen Loy McGinnis offers this view in his book, The Friendship Factor, “The best relationships are built up, like a fine lacquer finish, with the accumulated layers of many acts of kindness.” Every one of us needs the encouragement of a friend, husband, wife, mother, father, sibling, daughter, son, co-worker, or neighbor.
Encouragement is conveyed in tangible and intangible ways, and I have been the beneficiary of both through the years. One friend once brought me fresh herbs from her garden and placed them as a surprise on my doorstep with a sweet note tied in a pink ribbon. Another left me articles she found that she thought I could use in one of my talks. A faithful friend always takes time to pray for me. One Easter Sunday, I looked out my front door and, to my delight, found an Easter Lily on the doorstep with a sweet note from a Bible study friend. My dearest friend came over six hundred miles to help me unpack when we moved.
Handwritten notes of love, appreciation, and encouragement are almost a lost art, but don’t underestimate the impact they have! If you would like to bring joy to a friend’s day, start by having some on hand to send out, along with get-well, birthday, and sympathy cards.
Offer a helping hand as the Lord leads, sit with a sick friend, offer to take kids, or take a meal. Not only did we receive meals after the death of family members and after surgeries, but a friend also brought us a meal when our dog died! Don’t just offer bread, offer the Bread of Life—a word from the Lord—by having a scripture verse ready to share or tuck in with the little gift.
Finally, and most importantly, the most powerful encouragement is offering to pray with them. Over time, these are the accumulated layers of kindness that strengthen the finish on beautiful friendships.
Father in heaven, we praise You for how You are changing our thoughts about the importance of building each other up through devoted friendships. May we never take them for granted. We have learned that nurturing our friendships requires time, dedication, forbearance, and kindness. Nurturing our friendship with You, Lord, also requires time—time in Your Word and time in conversation. Thank You that You always have time for us and desire nothing more than spending time with us. We love you, Lord and we pray in Your name, Amen.
