Happy Wednesday Everyone! The word today is "Encourage". I have a friend who, each spring while preparing and planting her flower garden, begins with, "little encouragers".

What are little encouragers? They are little silk flowers that look real, but they are not. As the real flowers grow up and surround the encouragers, you really can't tell which is which. But she always has a beautiful, early garden that way.

I think that God puts us sometimes in strategic places to be "Encouragers". In a place where the winter season has been long and spring has been a long time coming .... an encourager is needed. He doesn't put us there to attract attention to ourselves, rather to bring hope to others. An encourager bestows value on others while they are still growing to reach their full potential.

Unlike the little silk flowers, God's encouragers are very real. They feel the heat and wither mostly on the inside where others don't suspect. But they do their job, with grace. God's grace. And He restores them day after day, year after year.

Are you an encourager? Don't seek to outshine those around you. Pride comes before a fall. Seek to bring out the best in others. Even if they don't notice, God will. Seek His favor first. His favor is what really matters. (O: