Hurrah! You Go! Get up! You can do it!
It’s so important to surround yourself with people who not only hold you accountable (lots of folks love to do that!) but who make you feel like you’re better after being with them.
Everyone needs cheerleaders in life. Not the phony kind who just say positive, surfacey things and make you feel sticky like a candy-cane that’s been slobbered on by a dog and then dropped on a cat.
No. ((shiver))
Rather, real friends who know what you’ve been through, what you’re capable of, and (more importantly sometimes) what you’re not capable of. Those that cheer you on to get up. Those that hold you up when you’re worn. The ones that not only hand you tissues when you’re sad, but pass the popcorn when you’re celebrating (well…for me it’s popcorn, for you, it might be something else!).
Last Saturday I got to hang out at Oregon Christian Writers and even got to co-teach a workshop on encouraging writers their publishing journey. It was such fun–I love encouraging others to write. It got me thinking about how important being encouraged really is. The Bible says in 1Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
In my novel, Macy, she’s got some new friends who encourage her in times of biggest need. They walk through some of her toughest moments when she falls and help her get up again. And again.
In my life, I’ve had a lot of encouragers. The Lord seems to bring them to me when I need it the most. An unexpected text, a card in the mail, a good friend coming by with a coffee just to sit and listen.
Who encourages you in your life? Who helps you get up when you don’t think you can anymore? A friend, a parent? Most importantly, do you encourage others?
I’d love to hear about the cheerleaders in your life, the ones that stood by your side and told you to get up, to keep going. You don’t have to use their names, but I’d love it if you left me a comment below.
Hi April. Nice article. You make an important and easily overlooked point.
In my case I am blessed by a great wife and a great dad. My writing partner Piper Bayard is an unshakeable rock of encouragement. That is one of the things that makes me willing to work with her.
Hi Jay. Sorry on the late comment, yours got lost in my email! It’s wonderful to have those closest to us on our ‘team,’ isn’t it? My parents and husband (and kids) are incredibly supportive of a lack of folded laundry and dinner done in late starts. Thanks for sharing!
I have been blessed with so many wonderful friends who lift me up when I need encouragement or cheering up! I treasure these friends right along with my family. I hope they know how much they mean to me!! 🙂
Friends can make every bit of difference, can’t they, Valerie? I hope MINE know as well 😉
I’ve been blessed to have a long list of friends who have cheered through tough times. This week I’m thinking of my dear friend Hilla as she celebrates her 85th birthday. As a college student with cerebral palsy remember going to her house for dinner, I feeling tired and discouraged. Besides a wonderful meal her encouragement gave me the faith to keep trusting God would see me through.