#beencouraged
A number of years ago, I was our church’s laity member to our state conference. During one of those conferences, the bishop at the time purchases wrist band for all in attendance with a simple message: Be Encouraged. While I don’t remember the sermon, that simple wrist band message has stuck with me for a long time.
Be encouraged, for me, mean view life with a sense of hope and wonder. Look for small positives that take place every day. As I think about my middle schoolers, I think about the student who doesn’t have reliable Internet, but is 7 for 7 in their blogs. I think about the student on my basketball team who has worked and worked and worked, with results finally starting to show as we ended our season. I think about my struggling readers, those who “hate school” and how little by little, they improve.
Be encourage means just that, look at all the stuff around you, and find the good. We made a mad dash to Ames Friday night, coming home Saturday night. While there, I found some great books at a local bookstore for cheap! Then, we made it home before the snow hit. While we missed two days, I felt rested for the first time in weeks. Tonight, we had a Korean dinner at our church, and we felt tired and rushed, almost not going. However, we ate WONDERFUL food, talked with some community members we’ve not seen in a while, and came home feeling good.
Be encouraged. So much of life is hard, but if you stop and look around, there’s so much good out there, little things, but good things. Writing this slice has made my day because there’s so much I miss rushing from meeting to meeting, place to place.
Be encouraged, my friends.
March 7, 2018 at 8:10 pm
I’m encouraged
March 7, 2018 at 8:19 pm
That’s all I can hope for! 🙂
March 7, 2018 at 8:33 pm
This word was perfect for me to read…needing to feel encouraged that there is a light at the end of this unpacking tunnel. 🙂 Nice post.
March 7, 2018 at 8:53 pm
Hooray for seeing the light at the end of the tunnel! 🙂
March 7, 2018 at 8:33 pm
I’m not only encouraged but empowered!
March 7, 2018 at 8:54 pm
Heck yes!! 🙂
March 7, 2018 at 8:38 pm
Always great to have a little positivity in my day. Thanks for the reminder to notice little things. Or just to stop and appreciate. Keep slicing!
March 7, 2018 at 8:54 pm
Sometimes, it’s nice to slow down and just notice what’s around you! 🙂
March 7, 2018 at 9:35 pm
Seems a simple message, yet it is so powerful.
March 7, 2018 at 9:37 pm
Thanks for this important reminder. My seventh grade readers alternately soar and bump. Today was one of the bumpy days, and I need to just remember how far they have come! Thanks so much!
March 8, 2018 at 3:57 pm
Bumps come and go, but we continue forward! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
March 8, 2018 at 3:44 pm
Exactly what I needed to read tonight – uni has been really tough and I’ve been feeling like I’m stuck in the wrong studies, a complete failure. The part about the student in the basket ball team encouraged me. I’ll think of it the next time I’m working on my project to fight off the despair that’s been weighing me down. Thank you! 🙂
March 8, 2018 at 3:57 pm
Well, not knowing your studies, I’m guessing complete failure might be a bit of a stretching, having seen your writing and photography skills, but we all go through times like this. Heck, read my last blog. It’s how we deal with it, work through it, and eventually push forward that shows our true character. I have no doubt that each time you are slammed with despair, you will find your unique way to shrug off that weight, and find your way through! 🙂 Thank you for stopping by! Your words mean a lot!