"Encouragement Needed"

Recently I received a letter from a fellow colleague in ministry who had in bold letters at the top of his letterhead these words, "Minister of Encouragement." I don't know about you, but that's just what I need. Every time I turn around, I seem to find many people who enjoy sharing their discouragements and hostility. What kind of world would it be if we had more people who were ministers of encouragement?

Laughter can be help to the many things that get us down. I remember a special man by the name of Grady Nutt. He died many years ago, but he was often referred to as the "Minister of Humor." Every time I had the opportunity to hear him speak, I went away refreshed and encouraged. He could tell the funniest stories and have everyone in the house falling out of their chairs with laughter. Laughter is needed in our lives. Laughter has a way of making a gloomy day seem bright again.

A former neighbor of mine told me a story about a man who moved down from the north. He wanted to know what the people were like down here and he wanted to find good neighbors. The lady asked him, "What kind of neighbors did you have in the place you moved from?" He said to her, "They were the worst neighbors you could ever have." The lady went on to say, "You probably won't like the neighbors down here either. If you will be a good neighbor, you will have good neighbors." There is much truth to what this wonderful lady had to say.

Let' s try to be good neighbors and encourage somebody this week!