Refresh Others & You Will Be Refreshed

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more details, please see our disclosure policy.

Want to save this post?

Enter your email below and get it sent straight to your inbox. Plus, I'll send you time- and money-saving tips every week!

Save Recipe

Photo Source: D Sharon Pruitt

Life is full of hard times and disappointments. There are little things that drag us down. And big things that can devastate us. And there are lots of things that fall somewhere in the middle.

And it’s a complex life. Sometimes the day-to-day tasks and responsibilities can be harder to push through than the monumental ones. I remember years ago when I was in the thick of it. With caring for four boys under seven years and hosting many events in my home, I felt like a regular give-athon.

A friend pointed out a scripture that I have held on to this day:

A generous person will prosper;
whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

Proverbs 11:25

I hold onto this promise that God is watching over us. That we are free to be generous, to refresh others, to encourage. And that God will see it.

Now, it doesn’t mean that I didn’t have a lot on my plate and maybe should have reevaluated things. And it isn’t saying that we should be doormats and give, give, give, without making sure that we’re not overdoing.

But, I do think it’s a promise. God loves generosity. He is generosity Himself. And we do well when we mimic him.

In the “life as MOM,” we know that our children are not always going to reciprocate the love and care we give them. That comes after they’ve grown up. We hope. Motherhood is, in a sense, a give-athon. But, it is a beautiful one. And one in which encouragement is so important.

And in our other relationships, the adults may not be savvy to mutual encouragement, either. People are strange. They might not realize you’ve just gone out of your way to do something nice for them. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t reach out in love and care for others.

If they don’t return the gesture, that can be a bummer, but God sees. And we can rest in that.

Encourage others

There are so many big and small ways that we can encourage others. And it feels good to do it! (Even if you don’t get the praise of men.)

  • Smile at your kids and spouse when you see them. Let your smile reach your eyes so that they remember you’re on their side.
  • Send a thank you note, even if it’s long past the “correct” window of time to offer thanks. Write a letter saying all the (nice) things you think, but forget to say.
  • Offer to help your friends pack up and move. Moving is a rough chore that no one I know likes, but the help is so encouraging.
  • Take a care package of snacks, games, and gift cards to a sick or mourning friend.
  • Make a donation to your favorite charity that goes a little farther than you normally give.
  • Call your mom, your grandma, your sister. Make sure they know you have all the time in the world for them.
  • Smile at the cashier and make a joke when you come right after a grumpy person.
  • Tell the manager what a good job your waitress did.
Photo Source: D Sharon Pruitt

Be Encouraged

You may not get the glowing response you hope for — every time, but you’re planting seeds that will grow. Your kids will see your efforts and they will remember later. Your friends will remember, even if they don’t say so at the time. That cashier or waitress will remember — someday.

But, even if they don’t. God will. So be encouraged and trust that He will refresh YOU when you most need it.

How do YOU encourage others?

For further reading: To Be More Joyful – Encourage Others

Disclosure: I’m partnering with Hallmark to bring you ideas for celebrating life, the ultimate special occasion. I’ve been compensated for my time spent writing. However, my opinions, jokes, family photos, little extras, and funny quirks are all my own. You can sign up to receive regular emails from Hallmark.

 

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

15 Comments

  1. As a new, single and first time mother, life seems like the tough mudder completion and this is the lift and encouragement i needed. The reminder of why I do what I do. Thank you so very much.

  2. I Love surprising a tired, worn out mom friend with some coffee, and sometimes some donuts! The pick me up is nice, the friendly face is nice, and the blessing it is to see a true friend being there for a sister in Christ is overwhelming at times. Love this topic. It is a favorite of mine. (it doesn’t hurt that I get some o that coffee too! 😉

  3. This is a great topic. I’ve been learning how to be more of a giver as I grow in my relationship with Jesus Christ. my pastor was talking about tithing yesterday, and the biblical principles of tithing. While it’s not directly related to this topic…it still reminded me of a few things. Or rather, it reminded me of a conversation I had with my dad afterwards. When we tithe, whether it’s money or time, when we give to others out of joy for our Lord 😉 :), it never is empty. We are always blessed in some way. I guess this reminds me that God will always bless in some way when we give to others. That’s been my experience anyway…plus, people are important. God tells us to love HIM and love people 😉 🙂 Thanks for such a great post 🙂 Have a good week. Love and hugs from Oregon, Heather 🙂

  4. A great encouraging post.

    I find sometimes just a touch on the arm as you ask someone “How are you?”, look them in the eye and really mean it – shows someone you care about them.

  5. I am a pastor’s wife and can more than relate to always giving and not being filled in the sense that you are being filled back by those you fill. But my lesson has been that the filling I need comes from my Creator, and does not need to come from His creation. He’s my living water. It’s so good to hear this reminder especially right when I need it! It’s so easy to get caught up in the “it’s all about me and my needs” mentality. Thanks for filling me up!

  6. This goes right along with our message in our church service this morning… our Pastor talked about others seeing Christ in you… and that if you were the only Christian person they could think of when the Christ came knocking on their hear’ts door, would they accept him? Or turn away because they certainly did NOT want whatever it was that you had!! When we do these things, and it seemingly goes unnoticed, I bet more often than not people DO see… and who knows… we might be the very ones that end up giving them that push they might be needing to turn their lives over to God and all that he has for them! 🙂 Thank YOU for always encouraging us, as your readers to be better in our “life as Mom”! 🙂 God Bless you!! 🙂

  7. Jessica,
    I love it, what a challenge to do something nice for no reason at all. I’m already thinking of meals on wheels for someone. Blessings on your Sunday and thank you for your encouragement through God’s Word. Hits home every time