Tracy and I met when we were freshmen at Westmont College in Santa Barbara in 1976. By the end of the year, there were six of us who were best friends and did everything together. Since then, we have been in each other's weddings, gone to each other's baby shower's, and attended weddings of our children. It has been wonderful growing older together.
Tracy and her husband came over recently to learn how to do some things for their blog Delightfully Free. As I was teaching them, Tracy was continually complimenting me on different things. She has always been that way. I always feel so good after she has left because she encourages me so much.
The gift of encouragement. A very good thing. We all need to be encouraged in this difficult thing called life. Too many people want to tear other's down. Life is tough enough without having to hear the criticism of others. Better a pat on the head than a kick in the pants!
The oil of kindness has worn the sharp, hard edges off many a sin-hardened life and left it soft and pliable, ready to receive the redeeming grace of the Savior. A pleasant word is a bright ray of sunshine on a saddened heart. Therefore give others the sunshine and tell Jesus the rest.
{Streams in the Desert}
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up,
just as you are doing.
I Thessalonians 5:11
