I saw her standing next to the milk.
Her little girl had chocolate brown eyes and animal cracker crumbs stuck to her sticky face.
I walked by, gave her a small smile and she ducked her head, apologetically making a funny comment about “having to open the cookies just to finish her shopping.”
I knew. I had been there yesterday.. except it was a hastily opened bag of goldfish and my little one was having a very loud “moment” until I distracted her with a snack.
I nodded my head and told her as much.
Immediately, I saw it on her face. Safety. She visibly relaxed and then went on to ask if she could ask me a question.
She did and we talked for a minute about babies and toddlers and how to try to just get them to eat-for-crying-out-loud.
I sensed something in her that I had felt in my own heart a hundred times so I spoke brave to this stranger/ fellow mama.
I said, “Hey you’re doing a good job. You’re just the mom she needs.”
Her eyes filled with tears and she said, “Thank you. Thank you very much. I’m trying.”
She walked away and I wondered if anyone was regularly encouraging her. Anyone in her corner? Telling her she’s a beautiful mom? Smiling at her with kindness?
I missed an amazing opportunity to try to connect with her more, but when I looked for her she was gone.
As I walked away I realized what an amazing gift you give someone when you just…. say something kind. Be a blessing. SEE THEM.
Because, we really never know. We never know what their life is like. What their heart is like.
And it goes far beyond kind words. It’s the Gospel that takes our kindness from self-help to actual words of Life.
Last September, we became intimately acquainted with the ministry of encouragement. Not because we were experts in encouraging others but because we needed a whole lot of encouragement.
And the most undeniably amazing thing we learned? God KNEW exactly what we needed to be encouraged. That’s the True Power of Encouragement. That no matter the form the encouragement comes in, God sees our hurts, our needs, our struggles and He KNOWS. He is Jehovah El Roi. The God who sees.
The God who sees. That puts a whole entirely new meaning and wonder to being encouraged. And to being the encourager.
He is All-Sovereign and All-knowing and He could have chosen a different way to make us, a different way for us to be made– but He did not.
He made us for community and for one another and for Him. We GET to encourage one another. WE GET to be the living love of Christ to others. WE GET to allow the light of the World to shine into and out of our dark places.
We are given the gift of being the Grace Gift to one another.
Linking up with these amazing ladies over here on the Power of Encouragement.
This is beautiful and so true.
Deb Weaver
now that my kids are out of that toddler stage I look for moms like this- the ones with three kids in and on the shopping cart, trying to patiently handle it all… I love to say things like… you’re doing a good job, hey, we’ve all had those days.. it gets better, you have your hands full but your heart fuller! encouraging others is a delight! (:
Bringing tears to my eyes today! What a lovely experience…makes me think how I can impact others in a similar way-those simply, everyday acts that make a person’s day.
Great thoughts today, Cynthia. I had a similar incident happen to me recently, except I was on the receiving end. I was in the shopping line with my two littles and the woman in front of me heard me say that we were in a hurry to my little girl asking so many questions. She gave me her place in line and said she remembered the days…and she missed them. I found safety in her eyes, in her words and in her gift. She has no idea how what she did affected me and I wish I could go back and hug her. Tell her thank you again. I don’t think she knew what her little bit of encouragement did to make my night better. I learned from her how important it is to be on guard and to be looking for opportunities to encourage someone else. Sorry for the novel of a comment. 😛 Always encouraged by your words. 😉
Beautiful. I had a similar experience last night at a restaurant. I love your statement, “It’s the Gospel that takes our kindness from self-help to actual words of Life. ” So true! God is a faithful farmer. He will bless the seeds you planted!