Encouraging Love

I just went for a run after work this evening (against my will, might I add).  It's gotten pretty cold outside and because we switched the clocks back an hour, it was practically pitch dark by 5:30.  All I really wanted to do was snuggle in my bed with a good book but instead I somehow summoned up the fortitude to lace my sneaks and hit the road. 

I wish I could say it was an epic run, but it really wasn't.  I was freezing cold and not running at a very fast clip.   I was probably only out there for about 25 minutes, but on my run back to my apartment, a woman pushing a stroller with two little kids riding along called out to me, "Can I just say that I am so proud of you!"  I stopped in shock for a second, and she just smiled and walked on.  

"How nice of her to encourage me!"  I thought to myself.  (It was only later that I realized that she may be one of those sneaky people who wears some sort of blue tooth device to talk on the phone and that her encouraging words were not actually meant for yours truly.  But I like to think they were).  My first thought was, "Wow, I should be encouraging her.  She's got 2 little ones to take care of and I've just got myself!"  And as I thought about this kind gesture from a complete stranger, my mind wandered to what the Bible says about encouraging one another.  

  "He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."

 1 Thessalonians 5:10-12  

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

Hebrews 10: 24-25

"Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts."

Colossians 3:16

Time and time again we are told to encourage one another and to lift each other up.  Yet too often I find myself seeking encouragement, rather than seeking others whom I can encourage.  I seek the praise of others for my job, my appearance, even my faith, and I rely on them to build me up.  And while being encouraged isn't bad in and of itself, it's important to remember that we are called to encourage others and build each other up throughout this journey called life.

I pray that I, along with each of you (who are already an amazing encouragement to me!) will seek to encourage others whom God has placed in our paths.  May we constantly seek those who desperately need to be built up that we might carry out God's work here on Earth.