The Encouragement Emporium

Initiating Conversation

2007-05-15T19:30:00.000-07:00

"...Brothers, if you have a message of encouragement for the people, please speak." Acts 13:15

A kind word can warm three months of winter. - Japanese Proverb

I remember when we were going through the agony of dealing with a rebellious daughter. She had done everything she could think of to go against what her father and I and her church had taught her was right. I felt like such a failure as a parent. No matter where I went, I tried desparately to avoid talking with people. I dreaded the question, "How are things going with your daughter?"

Then one Sunday morning at church, another mother, a little older and wiser, took me aside and said, "I know you're having a tough time right now. We went through a really hard time with our daughter too." This was a lady I thought had it all together. She always proudly brought her grandchildren to church with her. I never knew the story behind it.

When she was done sharing, I suddenly had a deep sense of relief. Someone understood. Someone had been there before and had survived all the hurt. She didn't give me platitudes of how God was going to work things out. By initiating that conversation, she simply told me she cared and understood. That was what I needed most then and I knew that God was in it.

(Copyright 2006 Karen Robbins)

Mailbag--God's love letters

2007-04-26T13:48:00.000-07:00

"For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." Romans 13:4

"The grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, something to love, and something to hope for." Allan K. Chalmers

In a box in the closet, I have a collection of letters exchanged between my husband and myself when we were dating. It was a long distance romance and an unusual one in that we wrote letters to each other almost everyday for a year. It's hard to call them love letters since they were more humorous than sweet and sappy but they were letters of encouragement. Each of us encouraged the other in our studies (we were both in college) and in the hope that our relationship was growing and would bring us together in the future.

I have often heard the Bible referred to as God's love letters to us. It not only teaches, it inspires, gives hope, and encourages a relationship. Do you go to your mailbox each day and collect the mail? Check your e-mail box for messages at least once a day? Why not open your Bible and see what God sent you today? Be encouraged.

(Copyright 2006 Karen Robbins)

Smile--from a stranger

2007-02-06T08:58:00.000-08:00

"Keep a smile on your face." Romans 12:8 (MSG)

"A smile is the number one feature that makes people attractive. It's a welcome mat." ~John Kinde

I was crossing the parking lot headed into a store in the strip mall and going over my agenda in my head: pick up one more gift, remember to get more tape and gift wrap, and be home in time to start dinner. As I hustled through the chill and drew my coat closer to my neck, I happened to look up from the pavement in time to see a lady coming toward me the other direction. I didn't recognize her. I didn't know her, of that I am certain, but she beamed a wonderful welcoming smile at me. I instantly responded (how could I not) with a smile of my own--one that I felt generate from my heart. It was a reflection of the one she gave me.

That was before Christmas and two months later I am still remembering that smile. It was so unusual. It was not the embarrassed smile of someone who had crossed my path and felt she was in my way. It was not the smile of someone who remembered me and was going to say "hello." Still, it was a smile that instantly made me connect with her somehow, that lifted my spirit, that lingers today.

Ahh! I know. With that smile she passed along joy. That's what has stuck with me even now.

Extol--give a gift of praise

2006-12-10T14:58:00.000-08:00

"Whoever has the gift of encouraging others should encourage." Romans 12:8 (NCV)

Remember this December, that love weighs more than gold! ~ Josephine Dodge Daskam Bacon

Anxiety levels rise as December 25th approaches. Everyone is looking for the perfect gift. They search and search through malls, catalogs, and online stores looking for it when all along it is well within their reach and their budget: a little praise wrapped in love.

Whether the words of encouagement are spoken or written, they will be welcomed and appreciated. It takes so little for us to say "Thank you," "You are kind (loving, thoughtful, etc.)," You bring out the best in others." "You bring joy into my life." Whatever loving praise you can think of that fits the person's special talents, personality, or need can't help but lift them and cheer them.

Love indeed weighs more than gold and to my mind, is much more precious.

Listening--a loving gift

2006-11-27T07:24:00.000-08:00

"You have ears, then listen!" Matthew 11:15 (NLV)

We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak. ~ Epictetus

This time of year is difficult for many people who have lost loved ones especially those whose losses have been recent. I remember the first year without my mother. She defined the term "Christmas spirit" and when she died, our family was feeling the loss deeply as Christmas approached. True to her nature, Mom had already purchased gifts for us a few months before her death in September. As we opened gifts that year, we shared what Mom had done in years past. We told stories of her successful and not so successful gift hiding, her traditional dinners, and other stories that brought smiles and chuckles as we remembered Mom's Christmas adventures.

Telling the stories we remember about a loved one helps to ease that great pain of loss. A good listener will help another through their sadness at holiday time by encouraging those stories and then listening--really listening, as they are told. Listening--what a great gift to offer another this year.

Make Time to Send Cards

2006-11-16T06:42:00.000-08:00

"I weep with grief; my heart is heavy with sorrow; encourage and cheer me with your words." Psalms 119:28 (TLB)

Time goes by so fast, people go in and out of your life. You must never miss the opportunity to tell these people how much they mean to you. ~ From the last episode of "Cheers"

The holiday season is upon us. How did Thanksgiving get here so quickly? Christmas will be fast on its heels. For most of us, the holidays will be sweet and tender, festive and full of fun. But there are those in our lives, whose celebration will be tainted by grief or shadowed by fear. They need your encouragement--the comfort to know they are still loved, still thought of, still cared for.

This year as you peruse the boxes of gift cards for your annual Christmas card mailing, walk a few steps farther and check out the single card purchases. There are lots of cards available that can lift the spirits of those who are down this season. I especially like the humorous ones. One of my favorites shows a snowman on the front reaching into his stocking and pulling out two pieces of coal. On the inside he pops the coal into his head and yells, "I can see! I can see!" I've sent it to a few people who needed to smile at Christmas.

Be careful with the humor and if you're not sure, send a nice card that says you're thinking of them or one that tells them how much they mean to you. These are easy cards to make as well. Or if you don't feel creative, just write a nice note. It's never a waste of time or talent. Send some cheer this year!

©2006 Karen Robbins

Smile--at you!

2006-11-08T04:54:00.000-08:00

If a sponge is all dried up, it is of little use until it is filled with water again. To be an encourager, you too, must be filled--with living water.

There is an account in the Bible of Jesus meeting a woman at a well. He must have planned this meeting for he'd separated himself from his disciples and was alone when she approached the well to draw water for the day. His objective: to offer her the living water, the spirit filled life that would leave her so full, she would never "thirst" again.

Set the scene in your mind. A woman, alone, is approaching the well. She sees a man--a stranger--sitting there. She hesitates. Should she continue? After all, in these days you never knew what dangers might be associated with strangers. Now here, in my mind, Jesus smiles at her. It's a smile like no other she's ever seen. It's inviting but not threatening. It's warm not coniving or sly. It's genuine not forced. It's a smile that prepares her heart for what he is about to tell her.

Smiles are like that. They prepare the way for you. Jesus still smiles at you today. He does it through his love letters--the scriptures. Start your day with a smile. Fill yourself with the living water he has to offer. Then use that smile on someone else to bring joy to their day.

©2006 Karen Robbins

Extol--Praise feeds creativity

2006-11-03T05:16:00.000-08:00

And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. God saw that the light was good. . ." Genesis 1:3-4 (NIV)

The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

In Genesis, in the very beginning of the Bible--the beginning of time, God began his creation of the world as we know it. Each step of the way, he sat back and "saw that it was good." God used that bit of praise--it was good--to be encouraged to continue.

Creativity is something God put into man, a tool to be used to enhance life. When we praise others for their creativity it inspires them to continue to use that gift. By our praise, we could be causing the creation of "a thousand forests." It only takes one nut.

©2006 Karen Robbins

Listen--Sensing Need

2006-10-29T05:47:00.000-08:00

"Stand before the Lord in awe, and do not sin against him. Lie quietly upon your bed in silent meditation." Psalms 4:4 (TLB)

The word listen contains the same letters as the word silent. ~ Anonymous

At a conference this weekend, a speaker had a power point presentation displaying inspirational people and interspersing motivational/inspirational quotes along with them. The quote above about listen and silent was displayed in association with a picture of Helen Keller. At first, I thought he attributed the quote to her but my research did not verified that. It did make me wonder though how in her world of silence, Helen Keller listened.

As listeners go, I imagine her to be a great one. She didn't have the distractions that the hearing/seeing world has. Her power of concentration had to be sharpened and honed by learning to percieve her world through her other senses. Did she listen through a touch? The grasp of a desparate hand asking for help? Through smell? Knowing someone was depressed because they weren't taking care of hygiene? What about taste? Did she listen by tasting the wonderful flavors of fresh bakery made to celebrate happiness?

How do you reach out to your world to listen? If you can see and hear, don't let distractions keep you from sensing someone's need for encouragement.

©2006 Karen Robbins

Initiate--Contact with God

2006-10-27T07:26:00.000-07:00

"I am leaving you with a gift--peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give isn't like the peace the world gives. So don't be troubled or afraid." John 14:27 (NLT)

Have courage for the great sorrows of life and patience for the small ones; and when you have laboriously accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in peace. God is awake. ~ Victor Hugo

Devotional time (time spent reading my Bible) escapes me faster than Houdini in handcuffs. If I do not sit down immediately and open my Bible in the morning, I will, despite all good intentions, not get to it. It's sad really because that's where I feel most in contact with God.

This morning I read chapter 14 of John. I must admit, I wasn't paying a whole lot of attention until the word gift hit me (see v. 27). It was as if God were standing there holding out a package wrapped in pretty paper with a bow on top. I stopped, thought for a moment and then proceeded to unwrap the gift by reading on. Wow. What a gift it was: peace of mind and heart. But, wait. There was more.

As if there were a gift within a gift, when I got to the end of the chapter, I found this: "Come, let's be going." An invitation. Jesus wanted me to walk with him today--to be by his side. A gift of companionship: contact with Him.

©2006 Karen Robbins

Make Time--to practice what I preach

2006-10-11T09:11:00.000-07:00

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven. . ." Ecclesiates 3:1 (NIV)

Nothing is as far away as one minute ago. ~ Jim Bishop

My mother always used to question, "Where does all the time go?" As a child, I thought it was kind of silly. After all, there were seconds and minutes and they made up hours and hours made up a day. The hands on the watch went around and around. That's where time went--or so I rationalized.

Now, as an adult with grown children, I wonder the same thing. It goes, but where? It gets used up, but for what? And the worst part, once it's gone you can't get it back. I like to "preach" that you need to make time for the important things. Don't just take time out, but plan ahead. I've tried to do that--make time, but it's a slippery critter and often slides stealthily through the cracks of life never to be recovered. I find myself needing to practice what I preach.

The nice thing about time is that you usually get a chance to face a new day and start fresh. I'm planning to take advantage of my new fresh day and get those encouragement cards in the mail, make a phone call, and remember to greet my husband warmly when he steps through the door tonight to let him know he's appreciated.

©2006 Karen Robbins

Smile Power

2006-10-09T17:08:00.000-07:00

"And work with a smile on your face. . ." Ephesians 6:7a (MSG)

Smile, it is the key that fits the lock of everybody's heart. ~ Anthony J. D'Angelo

It's difficult to stand in front of a group of people and speak. On the list of fears, it's near the top. I belong to a Toastmasters group and watch many work to overcome that fear.

One of our group has the most contagious smile. Whenever she is called on to speak, before she says the first word, she smiles. That does two things for her. First it helps to calm her nerves--gives her confidence. Second, there is hardly a person in the group that could resist smiling back. Before she has even begun, people are feeling a connection to her just because of her smile.

There is such power in a smile. It breaks down barriers, calms anxiety, encourages without a word. Have you smiled today?

Extol--Praise God

2006-10-06T06:16:00.000-07:00

"I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips." Psalms 34:1 (NIV)

God be prais'd, that to believing souls, Gives light in darkness, comfort in despair. ~ William Shakespeare

There was a time when I found it difficult to praise God. My mother had died. Three days later after the funeral, my infant niece began her battle for life, finally succumbing to a liver disease three months later. I struggled to see anything of God in those months of anguish.

When I felt myself hitting bottom, I sat down, paper and pencil in hand to prove that God had deserted us. To my amazement, I found He'd been there all along. One of the most profound examples was that my brother needed exactly $140,000 to secure a place for his daughter on a waiting list for transplants (insurance could not guarantee payment). It had to be cash or something readily converted to cash.

As we struggled through settling my mother's estate, we found two CD's that Dad had invested in. They were easily able to convert to cash and totaled exactly $140,000.

There were other things on my list, great and small. When I was done, in the midst of heartbreak, I was still able to say, "Thank you, Lord, for carrying me through the sand. I see now that lone set of footprints are yours."

(©2006 Karen Robbins)

Listen--Lend an ear, give a hug

2006-10-02T10:01:00.000-07:00

"If you have ears, listen!" Mark 4:23 (TLB)

“We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.” ~ Epictetus

Out for my morning walk, I heard someone call out a greeting. I turned and saw a neighbor who had recently lost her mother. I stopped and offered my sympathy for her loss. She is the same age I was when I lost my mother and has young children.

As she talked about the details of her illness, I remembered how it felt to be able to share the story--the grief with another. The more you shared the lighter the burden of grief seemed. So, I listened.

Then she casually mentioned the death of her brother a few months before. I was shocked. I hadn't heard that he had been killed in an auto accident. I truly felt akin then as I had lost an infant niece shortly after my mother died. Two deaths so close together are so difficult to overcome. I listened again. It wasn't easy. You see, I wanted to share as well. Even so many years after our tragedies, the grief still surfaces. I wanted to give her words that would comfort, would erase the pain, but I knew that was impossible. So, I listened.

When the story was done, I hugged her. I remembered a hug given to me from someone who looked like my mother. She's my son's age. I hoped she felt her mother's love in that hug.

(©2006 Karen Robbins)

Initiate--Prayer

2006-09-19T10:46:00.000-07:00

"Here are my directions: Pray much for others; plead for God's mercy upon them; give thanks for all he is going to do for them." 1 Tim 2:1 (TLB)

A feeling of real need is always a good enough reason to pray. ~ Hannah Whitall Smith

Last week for me was characterized by the weather--gray and dismal. The anniversary of 9/11 preyed on my mind. My daughter-in-law called with the news that her grandfather had suffered a stroke. (He died a few days later.) And it was the anniversary of my mother's death 22 years ago. (See Writer's Wanderings for more details.)

One thing just fed another leading me to feel down and depressed. I shared some of this with my writing friends and they encouraged me in my writing goals but I hadn't shared what was probably bothering me most--the memories of my mom. I hadn't shared because I didn't realize myself how much it was gnawing at me even 22 years later.

By Friday, and after a great day spent with my grandkids, I began to perk up. I set about finishing the Sunday school lesson I was to teach and watched my favorite college football team (Go Bucks!) win. The lesson went well on Sunday and worship filled my heart in the service. It was on my way out of church however, that God truly showed his love for me.

A friend stopped me and said he'd been praying for me that week. He didn't know why but he felt compelled to pray for me specifically. Through his obedience in initiating prayer for me, God worked in my life, brightened my spirit and by his sharing what he'd done, God comforted me.

Is there someone God has brought to mind who needs your prayer?

Make Time--for comforting

2006-09-13T04:52:00.000-07:00

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. " 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Do not believe that he who seeks to comfort you lives untroubled among the simple and quiet words that sometimes do you good. His life has much difficulty. . .Were it otherwise he would never have been able to find those words. ~ Rainer Maria Rilke

What draws us together in tragic circumstances such as 9/11? The need to be comforted. While some experienced a deeper loss, all of us experienced at the very least a loss of the sense of security. Never again will we feel inpenetrable as a country.

The goodness in 9/11 was the strength that people derived from each other by pulling together, by lending a helping hand, by wiping another's tears, by offering hope. Much of our country, our world, sought refuge in prayer. They turned to the Great Comforter. From Him they gained the courage to comfort another.

Be filled with His comfort and then, offer comfort where it is needed.

©2006 Karen Robbins

Smile--First steps after 9/11

2006-09-11T06:47:00.000-07:00

"Anxious hearts are very heavy, but a word of encouragement does wonders!" Proverbs 12:25

"I would give anything to go back to the morning of Sept. 11 and tell him how much I appreciated everything he's done for me. But I think he knows that now. In my eyes he died a hero. And how much more could you ask for?" ~ Marianne Keane, 17, eulogizing her stepfather, Franco Lalama, an engineer killed at the World Trade Center.

We all remember the day. We remember where we were when we heard. Some of us were connected even more closely to the tragedy, the horror of that day. There were--there are no words to explain, to mend, to change what happened that day. But as the dust settled, as the enormity of the situation and the task before us settled in, as men and women sought refuge and peace, they found strength in a little thing. The smile behind the hand that reached out to comfort them.

Smile at those you meet today.

©2006 Karen Robbins

Extol--Praise sandwiches

2006-09-07T05:23:00.000-07:00

"They have cheered me greatly and have been a wonderful encouragement to me, as I am sure they were to you, too. I hope you properly appreciate the work of such men as these." I Corinthians 16:18 (TLB)

When we have positive input, we have positive output, and when we have negative input, we have negative output. ~ Zig Ziglar

While collecting a paycheck is a reward, nothing is more satisfying than to know you are appreciated. In business, this needs to work both ways. Employers should fuel the fires of enthusiasm in their employees by giving them positive feedback about their work performance. Employees that want a great work environment should not only encourage each other but look for words to encourage and show appreciation to their employers.

Of course that would all work easily in a perfect world where everyone was doing exactly what was needed when it was needed. There are times when lack of performance needs to be addressed. The best approach is the praise sandwich.

The praise sandwich is a way to point out deficient areas of performance while still looking for strengths in another. Here's an example:

I appreciate the effort you make to get here on time. Your time card shows you always checked in at 8. That would work really well if you could find some way to get started on your work for the day a little sooner--maybe get your coffee before you punch in. Once you get going, you are very efficient in handling the phone calls and taking orders.

The meat of the message is that the worker needs to stop stalling in the morning after he's punched the clock. But by putting it between the "bread" of praise, it encourages rather than berates.

©2006 Karen Robbins

Listening leads to understanding

2006-08-28T16:24:00.000-07:00

"Listen to me now, to my resons for what I think and to my pleadings." Job 13:6 (TLB)

Treat people kindly, gently and with respect and consideration. They will respond favorably, and if they happen to be on your payroll, they will work harder and be more productive. ~ Zig Ziglar

Conversation is two-way interaction. It involves talking and listening. Otherwise it is merely a speech and often, with uninterested listeners. A productive work environment needs people who are good listeners. Listening leads to understanding. It also shows respect and consideration to co-workers, employees and employers.

The manufacturing department of a small company began to have problems when a couple of the employees started playing loud music others felt was offensive. When they were confronted, they complained that the type of music played over the speakers in the room was not to their liking. The department head quietly listened to both sides. Understanding that the music was an important issue in the employees work environment, he found the perfect solution. He issued headphones to each employee.

To listen is to understand.

(Copyright 2006 Karen Robbins)

Initiate acts of encouragement

2006-08-24T04:51:00.000-07:00

"A faithful employee is as refreshing as a cool day in the hot summertime." Proverbs 25:13 (TLB)

Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work. ~ Aristotle

Yes, the workplace is an arena full of competitors. Plenty of movies and TV shows have been made to show it in the extreme but what if it became a place where encouragement thrived--where a good job was appreciated by all and praised by co-workers? That is when a company becomes a team and strengthens its impact on its consumers.

Try initiating some acts of encouragement in your work environment. You don't have to praise the job another does directly (that could be construed as suspicious) but you could begin by saying things like, "I appreciate how you come into work with a smile," or "I like the way you organize your work area. It seems so efficient."

Do it often enough and it just might become contagious.

Make those reviews encouraging

2006-08-21T04:35:00.000-07:00

"Jeroboam stood out during the construction as strong and able. When Solomon observed what a good worker he was, he put the young man in charge of the entire workforce of the tribe of Joseph." 1 Kings 11:28 (MSG)

Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless. ~ Mother Teresa

Everyone needs to know and feel they are doing a good job. The tool many employers use is the review. It makes time for an employer to evaluate the worker's performance, apply a reward (a raise, promotion, bonus), and/or make needed adjustments to improve job performance.

A wise employer/manager uses it as a time of encouragement even if the employee is not working up to his potential. He will praise the strengths of the worker and discuss how those strengths might make his job performance improve.

A wise employee uses the review as a way to encourage his employer. This is not meant as "brown nosing" or earning "brownie points." It should be a truthful expression, one which tells the employer/manager that what he is doing that is helpful to the employees or the business.

Encouraging one another makes for a stronger work force and better business.

(copyright 2006 Karen Robbins)

Smiles—not just for customer service

2006-08-13T17:45:00.000-07:00

"God, mark us with grace and blessing! Smile!" Psalms 67:1

People are just as happy as they make up their minds to be. ~ Abe Lincoln

The customer service department of any business is well-served by employees who can radiate a smile of confidence and sincerity. What would happen to a company who had a work force of people who greeted each other with a smile? Encouraging? You bet.

Imagine coming into work each morning and being greeted by smiles from your co-workers. It could be a better boost than that third cup of coffee. How do you create an environment like that? It starts with you.

Promise yourself that you will start your workday with a smile for your co-workers. If it hasn’t been your habit to do so, they may be a bit suspicious at first but eventually, you’ll find your smile returned. And, just like any virus, you can spread this one throughout the office without the fear of causing sick-days.

(Copyright 2006 Karen Robbins)

Extol--Food for encouragement

2006-08-02T17:04:00.000-07:00

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in..." Matthew 25:35 (NIV)

Strangers are just family you have yet to come to know. ~ MitchAlbom, The Five People You Meet in Heaven

The men reading this post may not understand this so well but it's very important to a woman that a public restroom be very clean. Women have been known not to return to a restaurant or store simply because the restroom was deplorable. The mall that I frequent has beautifully kept restrooms and I always wonder if the management appreciates the employees who keep them spic and span.

One day I happened to be on my way out of the restroom when an employee came in pushing a cleaning cart. I smiled at her, threw my paper towel in the waste can and started to exit. Something inside me made me turn around and go back. She needed to know that she was appreciated. Would anyone else tell her?

"I just wanted to tell you what a wonderful job you do here." She looked at me in surprise, her mouth agape. When she didn't respond verbally I added, "I really appreciate the clean restrooms. Thank you."

She nodded her mouth still open. I smiled again and left. Sadly, I don't think anyone had ever told her that before. I hope it encouraged her.

(Copyright 2006 Karen Robbins)

Listen--for opportunities to encourage

2006-07-31T05:43:00.000-07:00

"If you have ears, listen!" Matthew 13:9 (TLB)

Opportunities are often missed because we are broadcasting when we should be listening. ~ Author Unknown

She was unmarried, a single mom and obviously pregnant. It was a busy morning at the restaurant where we usually have Saturday morning breakfast. We struck up a conversation about the upcoming birth. There was a sweet-sour note to her voice and hesitation as she talked of her due date. I, the encourager, was trying to bolster her confidence in facing the impending labor and delivery and began retelling my stories about the births of my children.

Weeks later, we learned that the new mother had been struggling with a decision that was life changing for her and her unborn child. Knowing she could not raise the baby on her own, she had chosen to let him be adopted by a family desperately wanting a child.

In all the Saturday mornings when we saw her, I could have been a better encourager if I had been a better listener. I was broadcasting more than I was listening. I have ears. I just forgot they were for listening.

(copyright 2006 Karen Robbins)

Initiate Conversation--Blogging to encourage

2006-07-24T04:32:00.000-07:00

"[Philip] met an Ethiopian eunuch coming down the road...He was riding in a chariot and reading the prophet Isaiah...Running up alongside, Philip heard the eunuch reading Isaiah and asked, "Do you understand what you're reading?" He answered, "How can I without some help?" and invited Philip into the chariot with him. "
Acts 8:27-31 (MSG)

True interactivity is not about clicking on icons or downloading files, it's about encouraging communication. ~ Edwin Schlossberg

My theme within this SMILE series is encouraging strangers--people we meet along the way with whom we have brief contact but yet can impact their lives by our expressions of encouragement. Many of you who pass this way are strangers to me but in a sense, I have initiated a conversation with you. My goal--to encourage you to encourage another today.

Blogging seems anonymous in a sense but the beauty of it is in the contacts that can be made through the opportunity to comment. A while back on my other blog, Writer's Wanderings, I posted a series of stories about difficulties with our adopted daughter. It led to an exchange of e-mails with a mother who was experiencing similar problems and I was able to comfort her and assure her that she was not alone in her fears, frustrations, and desires. So often courage comes in just knowing you are not alone.

After Philip initiated conversation with the Ethiopian, he was able to explain that Isaiah was describing how Jesus saved sinners. The Ethiopian was encouraged by Philip's words and accepted Jesus as Savior. He asked Philip to baptize him then and there in the nearby waters.

Initiate conversation with someone today who looks like they need a bit of encouragement and let God lead it.

(Copyright 2006 Karen Robbins)

Make time--for such a time as this

2006-07-22T13:25:00.000-07:00

"... And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" Esther 4:14 (NIV)

Strangers are just family you have yet to come to know. ~ Mitch Albom, The Five People You Meet in Heaven

When our five children were young we made quite a stir in a restaurant. It wasn't that they misbehaved (they weren't perfect but they kept themselves under control). It was just that there were seven of us all together and, of course the kids looked like doorsteps.

We always went out for dinner on Sunday. It was my day off from cooking and I never could get the hang of putting a roast in the oven and having it perfectly timed to be done after church. On several occassions when the kids were really good and we were interacting like a family from one of the perfect family sitcoms from the fifties, we had people come by our table, lean over and whisper how lovely our family was.

Raising children no matter how many you have, is not an easy job. Unfortunately most of us don't realize that until it's too late. We can get pretty frazzled, feel like failures, and wonder about our sanity. I treasured those strangers who were placed in my path and went out of their way to encourage me. I now try to do the same when I see a mom with kids. I figure God places me in their path--for such a time as this.

(Copyright 2006 Karen Robbins)

Smile--Make Someone's Day

2006-07-18T13:06:00.000-07:00

"Jacob said, 'for what a relief it is to see your friendly smile! I was as frightened of you as though approaching God!'" Genesis 33:10 (TLB)

What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humaninty. These are but trifles, to be sure; but, scattered along life's pathway, the good they do is inconceivable. ~ Joseph Addison

As a speaker, I often have to stand in front of a group of people I have never met before and begin to talk. Before I begin, I pause a brief moment and smile as I look over the audience. There are always at least two or three faces in the crowd beaming smiles back at me. They have no idea what I am about to say. They do not know if they will like what I say. They don't know if I will be humorous or serious--if I will make them laugh or cry, but they are smiling at me. Those smiles are the encouragement I need to begin and to put aside the fears of public speaking (even seasoned speakers still have them).

I often wonder if the smilers in the audience know how much courage they give to the speaker. All throughout my talk, I will glance at my smilers. I need that feedback. I need that encouragement that something as simple as a smile gives. Are you a smiler? Who are you encouraging today with a smile?

(Copyright 2006 Karen Robbins)

Extol--Dinner time praise

2006-07-14T05:43:00.000-07:00

"Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened calf with hatred." Proverbs 15:17 (NIV)

All great change in America begins at the dinner table. - Ronald Reagan

My husband of 38 years has always encouraged me with the words, "Thanks, hon. That was a good meal," before leaving the dinner table. On occassion, it is just a "Thanks for dinner, hon." Those nights I know he didn't like the new recipe I tried.

My children, my boys especially, were witness to this nightly ritual. My youngest, who is developmentally handicapped, has latched on to it. When he comes home to do his laundry once a week and get a "home-cooked meal," he beats his father to the draw with, "Thanks, Mom. G-g-g-ood d-dinner!" It's always followed by a wide grin.

While I can't be certain, I hope that the other boys have adopted their father's practice. It may seem like ritual but the words still feel good to hear and they encourage a wife and mother.

(Copyright 2006 Karen Robbins)

Listen--Lend an ear to family

2006-07-14T05:28:00.000-07:00

"(Joseph's brothers)Speaking among themselves, they said, 'This has all happened because of what we did to Joseph long ago. We saw his terror and anguish and heard his pleadings, but we wouldn't listen.'" Gen 42:21 (TLB)

I think a lot of our problems are because people don't listen to our children. It is not always easy. They're not always so brilliant that you want to spend hours with them. But it is very important to listen to them. – Barbara Bush

I admire Barbara Bush. She raised some great children. Rather you agree with the politics of her sons or not, you have to agree that at least they have stepped up to the challenge of trying to make this a better world. I suspect that the time she spent listening had something to do with their being encouraged to pursue jobs of service to their country.

Children need to have good listeners in their lives. It's essential to their language development for starters. They need to learn how to use the volcabulary they collect, how to express their thoughts in sentences, how to sequence events for story telling. Later in life, in those dreaded teen years, families need to listen when their teens put down the ipods and actually talk. So many problems could be worked out in those young lives, and probably on their own, if they just had a good sounding board.

Being a good listener is being a good encourager. It gives your talker the courage to explore and solve problems.

(Copyright 2006 Karen Robbins)

Initiate Conversation--Encourage your spouse

2006-07-13T06:34:00.000-07:00

"He was a mighty hunter, blessed of God, and his name became proverbial. People would speak of someone as being 'like Nimrod--a mighty hunter, blessed of God." Genesis 10:9 TLB

With thee conversing I forget all time: All seasons and their change, all please alike. - John Milton, Paradise Lost (bk. IV, l. 639), Eve speaking to Adam

Too often the person we live closest to, our spouse, is the person we most often forget to encourage. Oh sure, saying "I love you" is helpful but showing our love by telling the other of our faith in them, our pride in them, can speak volumes of encouragement.

One of the most effective ways to do this is to praise your spouse in front of others. Not profusely, lest it seem boastful or over done. Just a simple, "[Name] is good at [whatever you want to praise him for]." Or you might say, "I love it when he brings home flowers. He's so thoughtful." It is never a good idea to air disappointments, disagreements, or embarrassing failures in public. That only destroys. It doesn't build up.

I don't know if Nimrod had a wife but certainly if she were the one praising his skills of providing for the family and did so in front of others, word spread making his name "proverbial."

(Copyright 2006 Karen Robbins)

Make Time--for family encouragement

2006-07-11T04:54:00.000-07:00

"When the woman returned, Elisha said to her as she stood in the doorway, 'Next year at about this time you will be holding a son in your arms!' 'No my lord!' she protested. 'Please don't lie to me like that, O man of God.' But sure enough, the woman soon became pregnant. And at that time the following year she had a son, just as Elisha had said." 2 Kings 4:15b-17

If we take care of the moments, the years will take care of themselves. - Maria Edgeworth (O Magazine, April 2004)

It was not easy for me to get pregnant. I had to take medication. The first time it worked quickly and we had twins. The second time we tried for months and the dose of medication had to be doubled. I worried about having triplets but we were graced with another beautiful boy. Not wanting to risk another multiple birth and wanting a girl, we decided to adopt. We ended up with a "multiple" adoption. Our girl came with a brother. We stopped at five children.

Time spent with each child was critical to me. I had a mother who was a "cheerleader" in my life and I wanted that for all of my children. It wasn't easy. There never seemed to be enough minutes in the day. I had to make time to spend with each. By this I mean I set aside time. I didn't just take a time out from what I was doing--laundry, cooking, reading, cleaning, TV watching. I scheduled time to be at their school activities, to play together, to read, to talk about what was bothering them, to share in their joys and their disappointments.

I hope in the years to come, they will make time for their children as well. Three of them are fathers. That's not easy for them since they are centered on making a living, providing for those children. But here and there, I see them making time for their children, sharing in their joys and disappointments and showing my grandchildren they are loved.

(Copyright 2006 Karen Robbins)

Smile--Share one often with family

2006-07-10T06:12:00.000-07:00

"...and she always faces tomorrow with a smile." Proverbs 31:25 (MSG)

Let us make one point, that we meet each other with a smile, when it is difficult to smile. Smile at each other, make time for each other in your family.--Mother Teresa (in her Nobel lecture)

The scripture verse today is from the Proverbs 31 chapter that is known as the model of the perfect woman. Oh, to be that perfect. If you read the whole chapter, you find that this woman is never idle, works with her hands, makes her own clothing, is a business woman, promotes her husband's interests so that he is well-known, She rises before dawn to prepare breakfast and plan the day for her servant girls...WHOA! Servant girls?

Well, I could be more perfect if I had servant girls. But, no matter, of all the things she does, the easiest for us to emulate is the smile. Sure, there are some days that are more difficult to face than others but if we do that one small thing, smile, it somehow makes the day easier to face.

Sharing that smile with the family perks their day as well. It gives confidence, brightens gloom, and sheds love on those closest to us.

Mother Teresa's family was those she served. In their darkest hours her smile brought them hope. Her advice is well-taken. Share smiles with your family--often.

(Copyright 2006 Karen Robbins)

Express Appreciation

2006-06-30T04:59:00.000-07:00

"Overwhelm them with appreciation and love!" 1 Thess 5:13 (MSG)

Feeling grateful to or appreciative of someone or something in your life actually attracts more of the things that you appreciate and value into your life. - Christiane Northrup, M.D.

Reinforcing positive behavior in children is something most of us are familiar with. I watched my daughters-in-law at work this week doing that very thing with my grandchildren. "I like it when you sing quietly. It's pretty." "I like it when you use your fork instead of your hand." Words of appreciation prompted our preschool grandkids to behave appropriately.

Words of appreciation are important to adults as well. They tell us we are loved, respected, and valued. They are the fuel some need to go farther, work harder, and enjoy life more. They are the sparks that encourage a soul to greatness.

I like it when you encourage someone with a smile, make time to stop, initiate a conversation, laugh with them, and express appreciation.

(Copyright 2006 Karen Robbins)

Listen

2006-06-29T13:12:00.000-07:00

"If you have ears, listen!" Matt 13:9 (TLB)

With the gift of listening comes the gift of healing. - Catherine de Hueck

Do you know a good listener? They are the best friends we can have. They are healers, problem solvers, and ones who inspire. And often it is without a spoken word.

When you have a good listener to whom you can turn in need, do so. When we have to form the words and the sentences to tell someone what is consuming us, it helps us to work out our own solutions. There is something about another person listening that helps us to see more clearly what is behind and what lies ahead.

God is a good listener. That's why prayer is so important and so effective. When there is no one else there is our Heavenly Father who listens and loves and lets us pour out our hearts. By speaking to Him, we can be guided to the calm waters of life again even amidst the storm.

(Copyright 2006 Karen Robbins)

Initiative--Take Some

2006-06-28T09:49:00.000-07:00

"To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; someone else may be especially good at studying and teaching, and this is his gift from the same Spirit." 1 Cor 12:8 (TLB)

The most precious gift we can offer others is our presence. When mindfulness embraces those we love, they will bloom like flowers. - Thich Nhat Hanh

Shelley sent me a story of someone God used to encourage her:

I had some encouragement just this week. I had been asked to do the message part of the prayer meeting at my church this past week. I only had two days to prepare for it and it really wasn't enough. Anyway, I said my piece, was very nervous and felt like I was a total flop. I felt like I had failed in front of about 40 people. I had been told that usually there were only 10-12 people that show up to prayer meeting, so I felt even more pressure.

At the end of it all, one of the church members who is also a pastor and the president of the university I just graduated from, came up to me and told me I did great. He also told me that I have a gift for teaching, which is something that I have been wondering about. You see, I quit my job of 12 years to go back to school at age 33 with the purpose of becoming a teacher. I felt the Lord leading me to do this.

I graduated this past May, but did not get accepted into the B.Ed. program and felt very discouraged. I felt like maybe I heard God wrong, that He wasn't calling me to teach.

When this man told me that I have a gift for teaching, it encouraged me greatly so I am still going to work toward the goal of being a teacher. It just might not happen the way I had thought it would...who knows.

God is in control of things, and I just need to remember that His ways are not my ways and the situation might not happen the way I thought it would.

Make Time to Be Encouraged

2006-06-27T08:44:00.000-07:00

"But I keep right on praying to you, Lord. For now is the time--you are bending down to hear! You are ready with a plentiful supply of love and kindness." Psalms 69:13 (TLB)

What may be done at any time will be done at no time. - Scottish Proverb

Time. It is the one thing we cannot make more of. We are alloted only so many hours and minutes in a day. Often we hear someone say, "Take time to..." Somehow taking time to do something seems arbitrary.

"I'll steal a few minutes here or there and get it done." How often do we think that and the time gets away from us, passes, and the day is done? That's why I say, "Make time to..." When we make time in our schedule, in our day, we have an appointment to keep. We don't just look for a place to squeeze something in.

Make time in your day to be encouraged through God's word, through prayer, and use that to encourage another.

(Copyright 2006 Karen Robbins)

Smile And A Wink

2006-06-26T10:17:00.000-07:00

"Warm me, your servant, with a smile..." Psalms 31:16 (MSG)

"God encourages his children even when the umpire Satan is crying "You're out!" --Cathy Messecar, The Stained Glass Pickup

It only takes a smile or a wink to lift someone's spirits, refresh a soul, encourage a young mother:

"Years ago when my adopted son was around three months old, he began fussing during worship. Being a new mother after 10 years, I was becoming frustrated and frazzled. Out of sheer exhaustion, I sat down. A man in the row before us, turned around and winked. My spirit calmed and so did my son. I've never seen the man again. To this day, I believe God sent me an angel. " (from Cynthia Hickey)

Extol--Praise God

2006-06-23T18:21:00.000-07:00

"Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever." Psalms 145:2

I have had but one passion, and I have lived for it - the absorbingly arduous yet glorious work of proclaiming the grace and love of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. -John Henry Jowett

Yesterday afternoon was disasterous. Rain came down in a torrent for about 45 minutes. The storm sewers overflowed into the waste sewers and most of the homes on our strees, including ours, had filthy water in the basement. I should have been devastated as I waded through it all to try to save what I could. But my patience surprised me. My calmness was almost shocking even when the treadmill decided to start up on its own and I had to knock the plug out of the socket to stop it.

God's grace is hard to define sometimes. Yesterday I think I experienced it through all of the nastiness of the afternoon. His grace was enough to see me through the emergency until my husband made it home through the flooded streets. His grace sustained us both as we learned how bad the damages are. His grace encouraged me to face what lies ahead--the clean up--and know that He will get me through it, step by step.

Praise His name.

(Copyright 2006 Karen Robbins)

Laugh--often

2006-06-22T06:27:00.000-07:00

"And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him. And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me. "
Gen 21:5-6 (KJV)

"The most wasted day of all is that during which we have not laughed." - Sebastian R. N. Chamfort

Not only did Sarah laugh at the prospect of being a mother at her age, I'll bet she had a lot of laughs to follow as she watched her son grow and explore his world. This morning I checked my daughters-in-law's blogs. One wrote of my son and his escapades in fixing the air conditioner in their car. I laughed as I read of my child's attempts and final success and his promise to his wife that "ice cubes will come out of the vents."

My other daughter-in-law wrote of another clever response from her son--one of many she is documenting in her daily blog. I laugh with each new adventure in her day as she explores the world through the eyes of a preschooler.

Humor is uplifting. Laughter is encouraging. Look for the humor in what your day brings and laugh. It really is the best medicine.

(Copyright 2006 Karen Robbins)

Inspiring Words

2006-06-21T07:47:00.000-07:00

"Therefore encourage each other with these words."
I Thessalonians 4:18

"I know that faith made my life possible and that of many others like me...Reason hardly warranted Anne Sullivan's attempt to transform a little half-human, half-animal, deaf-blind child into a complete human being. Neither science nor philosophy had set such a goal, but faith, the eye of love did. I did not know I had a soul. Then God in a wise heart drew me out of nothingness with cords of human love and the life belt of language, and lo, I found myself. In my doubly shadowed world, faith gives me a reason for trying to draw harmony out of a marred instrument. Faith is not a cushion for me to fall back upon; it is my working energy." -Helen Keller, Let Us Have Faith, 1940

If God could reach through the silence and darkness that was Helen Keller's world, certainly He can reach into anyone's life. He can reach into your life through "the cords of human love and the life belt of language." He can also use you to encourage another.

Make Time to Encourage Another

2006-06-20T13:58:00.000-07:00

"I weep with grief; my heart is heavy with sorrow; encourage and cheer me with your words." Psalms 119:28

"Kindness is the only service that will stand the storm of life and not wash out. It will wear well and be remembered long after the prism of politeness or the complexion of courtesy has faded away. When I am gone, I hope it can be said of me that I plucked a thistle and planted a flower wherever I thought a flower would grow." -Anonymous

If you have ever lost someone close to you, you know what the busyness of a funeral is like. That's not a bad thing. It brings people together, gives the family something to concentrate on those first few days when the reality of the loss is just settling in. But once everyone has gone home, the last of the lunchmeat and ham is eaten, the hole in your life is felt more deeply.

Right now do you know someone who is in that position? Do something positive. Cheer them with a card. Make it a card that doesn't say "sympathy"--they probably have a stack of those. Make it a card that will bring a smile to their face or a note that simply says, "I'm thinking of you." Not only will it lift the receiver, you will feel better for having done it.

(Copyright 2006 Karen Robbins)

Smiling--the early stages

2006-06-19T06:46:00.000-07:00

"A cheerful heart brings a smile to your face;" Proverbs 15:13 (The Message)

The smile that flickers on baby's lips when he sleeps— does anybody know where it was born? Yes, there is a rumor that a young pale beam of a crescent moon touched the edge of a vanishing autumn cloud, and there the smile was first born in the dream of a dew-washed morning. -Rabindranath Tagore, Gitanjali, 1912

We all do it. Sometimes we do it when no one else is around so we won't embarrass ourselves. We make funny faces and noises to make the baby smile. When a baby smiles, he smiles from head to toe. It's a smile that brings a gurgle eventually developing into a giggle. It's a smile that warms our hearts and lifts our day.

According to Martha and William Pieper of BabyCenter.com , "The first social smile may appear as early as 6 weeks, but it's unlikely to be a regular feature for quite a while. Generally, babies smile readily by 12 weeks, and by 6 months most smile ecstatically at the people they know best."

I think babies are smarter than we think. They know when they smile they are encouraging us. After all, with a smile a baby says, "Mom. Dad. You're doing a great job. I'm happy, healthy, and well-cared for. Now make another funny face."

(Copyright 2006 Karen Robbins)

Extol Another's Accomplishments

2006-06-17T08:05:00.000-07:00

I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders." Psalms 9:1

"It doesn't matter who my father was; it matters who I remember he was." ~ Anne Sexton

It's Father's Day. My father is no longer with us but I do remember him each year and am grateful for the love he showered on my brother and me. Dad was a great outdoorsman and we spent hours fishing together, hunting worms for those fishing trips, and once, I was allowed to follow along as the men went hunting. Turned out it wasn't my thing and I couldn't handle a shotgun anyway.

Dad was a good provider, a father who took pride in his children and enjoyed them. But to my knowledge, Dad was not a Christian. We talked about that on occasion and he confirmed in a way that he believed in God but to have a relationship with Jesus was something he would never talk about. Dad was a proud man and it would have been difficult for him to admit he relied on another's help even if it was Jesus. I can only hope that sometime in the quiet solitude of being outdoors watching the fishing line, God tugged on his heart and caught him as His own.

(Copyright 2006 Karen Robbins)

Listen, Laugh, Love

2006-06-15T19:45:00.000-07:00

"You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry." Psalm 10:17

Don't miss the donut by looking through the hole. -Author Unknown

Sometimes in seeking encouragement we need only find someone who is a good listener. Lori sent me this story:

When we first moved into the apartment we were renting while our house was finished, I was very depressed for the first couple weeks. The place was dirty, cramped, and I missed my house. Then Ron went away and the TV broke. Nothing about our routines was normal, and the kids were adjusting to the changes the only way they knew how - by misbehaving. It just seemed like it was one thing on top of another. During that time, Patty called me every single day just to see how I was and to listen to my growing list of complaints. She just listened. Emotionally speaking, She came and sat in my corner with me. She comiserated with me. That was really all I needed, someone to sympathize with me, not fix anything. I knew she was busy with her own life, yet she cared enough to check in on me and spent the time to listen. That was just the encouragement I needed during that time.

God is an encourager and a listener too. But sometimes we need a human ear as well. Could you be that listener for someone else today?

(Copyright 2006 Karen Robbins)

Smile Power

2006-06-13T13:10:00.000-07:00

"Encourage one another daily..." Hebrews 3:13

"The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up." Mark Twain

It's a little thing--a smile. No matter how dark the day however, a smile breaks through the darkness and lights a little corner. A smile given is almost always a smile returned. Start with smiling at the person you greet in your bathroom mirror every morning. I guarantee that if you smile at that person, your smile will be returned.

Smiles come in all sizes. Some are large grins. Some are little curls at the corners of the mouth. All of them speak of encouragement. A smile is probably the single most non-verbal way to express to another that you care about them.

So, if you're feeling a little down, try smiling at someone else. It's good exercise for the spirit. The world will look a little brighter and the smiles will start coming your way as well.

(Copyright 2006 Karen Robbins)

Lily

2006-06-06T13:03:00.000-07:00