By Brenda Cannon Henley
I have been engaged in a seminar built around the theme of The Ministry of Encouragement taught by Dr. Harry Mills. In my opinion, the class is far reaching and the students are learning many things. One thing that is repeatedly emphasized is that encouragers are sorely needed and every person can become one in some shape, way, or form.

As is often the case, when I am thinking about a subject, gathering material needed for writing, or simply going about my life, God graciously supplies live and up to the minute illustrations. This happened to me on Thursday. I was hosting a study in my home for The Broken Pots, a precious group of ladies I teach, and having worked all week, still needed a few things from a couple of stores and a good many things from the grocery market.

Running into a nearby store for paper products, I quickly gathered my items and headed to the register to pay. Before going into the store, I remembered I would need a quarter for the cart I would use there. Searching in all my hiding spots where I usually stash loose change, I found three dimes and several pennies. The grandkids got there first.

When I approached the register, I asked the store employee if she would kindly give me a quarter and a nickle for my three dimes. She saw my debit card in my hand and told me she would not be able to give me change because the drawer would not open if I used my card. I paid and gathered my bags.

Just before reaching the door, a lady that had been behind me in the line touched my arm and said, “I heard your conversation. Here is a quarter I found in my bag. Please take it.” I offered her my three dimes, and she said, “Oh, no, let me be a blessing to you. I shop at that market, too, and know about those carts. Looks like you are in a hurry today and I want to help.” I thanked her and said, “May God bless you for your kindness.” We hugged and shook hands. I was encouraged much more than a quarter’s worth.

There are opportunities all around every single day if we ask God to open our eyes and our hearts to see them. “Encouragement is more than a complement or a pat on the back,” said Dr. Mills in class. “It is truly the most basic form of counseling, a skill that can be mastered by laypeople, as well as trained counselors. We must know how in order to fulfill the biblical exhortation to ‘encourage one another.'”

To encourage others is to stimulate courage, help to build confidence, applaud achievement, highlight potential, be supportive, and endorse effort. When we take time to encourage others we can acknowledge works, give assurances, be comforting, show appreciation, experience empathy, and motivate success.

Encouragement is not flattery – to complement excessively with the intent to win favor. It is also not insincere praise or undeserved complements. Neither is it excessive accolades piled up on others or empty consolation.

William Barclay wrote, “One of the highest of human duties is the duty of encouragement. The world is filled with discouragers.” He added, “We have a Christian duty to encourage one another. Many a time a word of praise, thanks, appreciation or cheer has kept a man on his feet. Blessed is the man or woman who speaks such a word.”

By the way, I found a quarter in a door panel of my car that I missed and passed it on to a gentleman as I left the market who was looking for one to obtain his shopping cart.

Brenda Cannon Henley can be reached at 409 781 8788, or
[email protected]

[May-31-2022]