Hey there, Singles!!
As we all know, single life has it's own set of challenges... but somehow, with God's help, we all manage to keep going.
What is the most encouraging thing that someone has said to you--something that inspires you to keep on keeping on? And what is the most encouraging thing you've said to someone else?
I have two examples of each.
As far as encouraging someone, a woman once asked me if she should go ahead and take a knitting class... To be honest, I didn't go out of my way to gush over the idea because she was always asking if she should do this or that. I just told her I thought she'd have a lot of fun and it would be something really neat to learn. Over time, she eventually made baby blankets, booties, scarves, even a pair of leg warmers... and a set of dishtowels for me, saying, "I would have never even taken that class if you wouldn't have encouraged me."
At another time, I once worked with someone who was seeking help for a personal issue, and called right at the last minute, wanting to back out of an appointment. I told the person, "It's going to be ok... just try one appointment and see how it goes, ok? One time can't hurt..." I'm happy to say that although it was a tough fight, that person is now recovered and living a completely different, healthy life.
It's amazing to me that God can use us through such "ordinary" circumstances.
As far as people encouraging me... I have many wonderful people who have supported me through life. But two very special memories for me are of the inmates I used to write--one who told me, "Kim, when I get a letter from you, it's like you're sitting right here talking to me," and that meant more to me than any grade on any paper I had ever written throughout my academic career. Hearing that I could write something real and meaningful to someone in such a dire situation was more validation than I had ever experienced in school.
Secondly, I was once very down when visiting a friend who is incarcerated. I told him, near tears, "I just don't think I have a purpose in life."
My friend... being a guy (sorry guys, have to tease you a little) and a "tough guy" at that, looked at me like I was nuts and said, "KIM. WHAT. THE. HECK. ARE YOU CRYING FOR??? It's because of our conversations that I'm back to studying the Bible and praying... and I'm someone who is seen as the toughest of the tough and the worst of the worse. If you can have an influence like that in here, I KNOW you can do something out there!!"
Duh-Oh!!!
It was one of those times when someone who REALLY knows you has the guts to drop-kick you in the rear and force you right out of your own pity party!!!
But, I was laughing through my tears, because he was basically saying, "GIRL, what's WRONG with you!!??" And, I've never forgotten what he told me.
How about all of you? What's are the things that have been said to you, or that you've said to others in order to lift each other up and encourage you or someone else to keep going?
As we all know, single life has it's own set of challenges... but somehow, with God's help, we all manage to keep going.
What is the most encouraging thing that someone has said to you--something that inspires you to keep on keeping on? And what is the most encouraging thing you've said to someone else?
I have two examples of each.
As far as encouraging someone, a woman once asked me if she should go ahead and take a knitting class... To be honest, I didn't go out of my way to gush over the idea because she was always asking if she should do this or that. I just told her I thought she'd have a lot of fun and it would be something really neat to learn. Over time, she eventually made baby blankets, booties, scarves, even a pair of leg warmers... and a set of dishtowels for me, saying, "I would have never even taken that class if you wouldn't have encouraged me."
At another time, I once worked with someone who was seeking help for a personal issue, and called right at the last minute, wanting to back out of an appointment. I told the person, "It's going to be ok... just try one appointment and see how it goes, ok? One time can't hurt..." I'm happy to say that although it was a tough fight, that person is now recovered and living a completely different, healthy life.
It's amazing to me that God can use us through such "ordinary" circumstances.
As far as people encouraging me... I have many wonderful people who have supported me through life. But two very special memories for me are of the inmates I used to write--one who told me, "Kim, when I get a letter from you, it's like you're sitting right here talking to me," and that meant more to me than any grade on any paper I had ever written throughout my academic career. Hearing that I could write something real and meaningful to someone in such a dire situation was more validation than I had ever experienced in school.
Secondly, I was once very down when visiting a friend who is incarcerated. I told him, near tears, "I just don't think I have a purpose in life."
My friend... being a guy (sorry guys, have to tease you a little) and a "tough guy" at that, looked at me like I was nuts and said, "KIM. WHAT. THE. HECK. ARE YOU CRYING FOR??? It's because of our conversations that I'm back to studying the Bible and praying... and I'm someone who is seen as the toughest of the tough and the worst of the worse. If you can have an influence like that in here, I KNOW you can do something out there!!"
Duh-Oh!!!
It was one of those times when someone who REALLY knows you has the guts to drop-kick you in the rear and force you right out of your own pity party!!!
But, I was laughing through my tears, because he was basically saying, "GIRL, what's WRONG with you!!??" And, I've never forgotten what he told me.
How about all of you? What's are the things that have been said to you, or that you've said to others in order to lift each other up and encourage you or someone else to keep going?
