When I was a young girl, we lived in a small home on an acre of property with quite a few trees. One of my favorite things to do was to climb them.
Many times it would just be for fun and to hide, and other times it would be to just get away from everything...to have a sense of being above all the cares of my little world. The above photo is a Ficus tree similar to one I climbed in my front yard, but a good bit larger.
Last week was not an easy one for a few different reasons. How I longed to be up in a tree...the branches swaying in the breeze... and me far above all that concerned my heart; up where the squirrels scamper and play, the birds sing, and everything is right with the world...at least while I'm there.
Over the weekend, in search of some encouragement for myself, I purchased a little book about encouragement. However, the book was about giving it rather than receiving it. OR WAS IT???
Hmm...could it be that in order to get my eyes off of my concerns, I could encourage someone else, and we would both be blessed and encouraged?? That was exactly the point this book made!!!
One of my strengths is that of an encourager...I knew that already, so it was time to snap out of it and get to encouraging...so I did.
I bought my 20 yo some ice cream from her favorite shop which she drove 20 minutes to get to the night before, but they changed their hours and were closed. She's had a rough time and was really counting on that ice cream cone!!
I took my niece, Maddy and her best friend to an RV show and we had a blast climbing in and out of all of the vehicles, campers, and amazing coaches. Their smiles and enthusiasm were priceless!!
I gave my husband some extra loving and compliments on how great he's looking with his weight loss, and offered to rub his sore muscles. He was delighted and showered me with lovin'!!
There were a few more, but you get the idea.
Mark Twain stated it very simply:
The best way to cheer yourself up is to cheer everybody else up!!
It is almost impossible to think of yourself when you're encouraging someone else. Of course, God knew that!! And how gracious of Him to remind me when I needed it most!!
Isn't this one a beauty??
Well, as appealing as a good climbing tree is to get away from it all, how much more wonderful is it to help someone else feel better and be doubly blessed and encouraged yourself??!!
Spread some encouragement and joy, and watch it boomerang right back atcha!! :)
Have a delightful week!!!
HUGS,
Becky
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