"I am Steadfast When I Encourage Others"

Mentor Mom Moment with Lara Duininck

I am blessed with a mom who is an incredible encourager. She is so good at finding ways to

boost a person’s spirits and say a kind word. She taught me to ask questions and always make

sure you leave a conversation having learned something about the person you were talking to.

She said it was selfish and one sided to just talk about yourself and I really took that to heart (or

least I try!). My mom has Parkinsons and recently fell and broke her hip, she is currently in a

nursing home and it has been so hard. She wants badly to feel better and be back in her home.

Parkinsons and the medications have been hard on my mom. It has made her struggle with her

mind and body. I was visiting a couple of weeks ago (she lives in California) and I could see she

was really working to be positive (although she had some funny and negative words too). She

was encouraging her sweet caregivers and saying whatever words she could find to tell them

how great they are (you must be such a good mom, you have beautiful hair, aren’t you

handsome?, thank you for helping me). I am grateful to see my mom fight her struggles and

keep pushing to be a blessing to others.

I read a few devotionals to my mom and this was one that hit home. The passage in Hebrews

reminds us that as we encourage others with positive words and even more importantly who

they are in Christ, “our own souls are reinforced with supernatural strength to face what lies

before us.” We can “shine a flashlight of hope into the darkness”.

I have found that as I listen to a friend and seek to encourage her, I am also encouraged! I may

be looking for a scripture to share and that passage blesses me too. As I pray for my friend, I

feel the peace that only comes from God. This does take time to listen, search and respond to a

friend who needs that word, but it is worth it!

“Gospel-centered encouragement is like a boomerang—the words we speak to build up others

and refresh weary hearts return right back to us. So, sister, linger with your hurting friends and

listen to the share their pain, frustrations and questions. As the Holy Spirit leads you, speak

encouragement from Scripture to them, equipping them to remain steadfast in the Word of

God. And if you’re struggling to believe that the words you’re saying are true in your own life,

remember: God will give you the strength to remain steadfast when you encourage others in

Christ, not because you don’t struggle yourself, but because God’s unchanging truths are

always changing us.” Taken from “Steadfast - A Devotional for Women in Seasons of Change" by

Well-Watered Women.

Encouragement comes in many forms and some of those can be quick and easy if we make a

habit of doing it. Bringing a meal to a new mom, offering to watch a friend’s child so she can

take a much needed nap, baking cookies for a neighbor or just offering a kind word lift the

spirits of those you are encouraging and end up blessing you too!! Your kids hear the words

you are saying or see the effort you are making and it teaches them about selflessness. Your

husband and children will also benefit from your words of encouragement! Practice on them!

I am not perfect at this but I try and in the words of our oldest granddaughter “I got it from my

mama!”