Encouragement comes in many forms. It’s our challenge to recognize it and use it for its intended purpose. I had such an encounter at Kroger yesterday that fueled my fire.
When I heard the words, “Hi Neighbor!” and saw the pretty face of a woman with her arms outstretched for a hug. It was the first interaction we’d had in a while outside of FaceBook. Then came my virtual Scooby Snack. She told me she had recently struggled in preparation to teach a confirmation class at her church, until she read a post from my blog that gave her the needed confidence. She thanked me for the encouraging words, but did she have any idea how much she encouraged me in turn?
I’m currently working with an author who believes in me fully, yet I fight with my inner-critic constantly questioning my work-in-progress. I had yet another golden checkmark in my column this morning from a world-renowned figure. On and on, our humanity fights with us, beating us down, scoffing and waiting for us to make a fool of ourselves. “Who do you think you are putting yourself out there like that?” it jests.
I’m a child of God, created in his great image, and it is my responsibility to use the gifts he has given me to glorify him in all things, though I fall very short. I am my own biggest work-in-progress. I pray that I will gobble up these Scooby Snacks and use them to power me along as I “lean in to the thumbprints that God has placed on me.”