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By Deb DeArmond
“Hi ladies! Come in!”
The woman behind the counter greeted us warmly, grateful for company in the empty hotel boutique. We chatted about the weather and then, somehow, we slid from the safe confines of customer/clerk conversation into faith, values, and the world we live in. We had a lot in common.
“We are attending the Christian Writer’s Conference,” I explained, and she perked up.
Bettie told us about her desire to write. “I’m convinced God wants me to write my life story.”
“So when are you going to do that?” I asked.
“I don’t know. I think it could help others, but I’m not sure I can do it. I’m not a writer.” She looked at us shyly.
We encouraged her to consider the possibility. “If you have a story to tell, and a desire to share it, what have you got to lose?”
She agreed and thanked us. We zipped up our jackets and headed back into the cold.
We had asked God for divine appointments on this trip. We hoped to learn from publishing professionals. Perhaps present a proposal or receive encouraging feedback on our work. We hadn’t anticipated it might work the other way around; that we might be the encouragers rather than the encouragees. Although we hadn’t set out to gain, we received a blessing.
“So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you’ve already been doing,” (1 Thes 5:11 NLT). Timothy reminds us to be ready to “preach in season and out,” (2 Tim 4:2).
Although we hadn’t thought of our conversation as preaching, we had exhorted a new friend to follow a call she was uncertain she could fulfill. We had offered encouragement. In turn, we received it. Isn’t that just like God?
Sowing and reaping is like gravity—it’s a principle that always works. You can’t outgive God.
What harvest are you watching for, waiting for?
What a great way to start the new week! I will be looking for opportunities to give away whatever those around me need; a smile, a word of encouragement, money, a blessing. I wonder what lies ahead?
Deb, what a wonderful story of God’s orchestration. It’s humbling to be an instrument in His hands, isn’t it? Thank you for what YOU are doing to take such a deep interest in the lives of others and the ways in which you are encouraging women. I’m blessed to be among them.
“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith” (Galatians 6:9-10 NLT).