The Power of Encouragment

I don’t know if you guys struggle with excerise as much as I do, but some days it is just really hard to be disciplined! A couple of months ago, I was running VERY early in the morning (before the sun was up), when I stumbled over my own feet! (Yes, I have a hard time with coordination.) I twisted my ankle, rolling into the street. It has taken this long for it not to hurt any more.

My sister, Janet, who has been a life long role model for me, has flown to Charlotte this week. It has been so wonderful to have her here! Janet is preparing to run her first 5K next Saturday, so I decided this was the time to get serious about getting back on my feet again.

Having to run seven miles yesterday, Janet was a little anxious as she has only done this once before. I told her to set the pace, which she said would be about eleven – twelve minute miles. Our course would be in Rome, Georgia, where we are visiting my oldest sister, Sue.

We couldn’t have picked a better scenery. Sue, works at Berry College, which is the largest continuous campus in the world (26,000 acres). The first time we saw deer I counted 20! As we ran, I chatted. I shared with Janet everything that the Lord is doing in my life and at Proverbs 31. Once in awhile, I would ask Janet how she was doing. She would admit that it was hard, but she was doing it. Finally, the mile marker said we had only a half of a mile left. I could feel her increasing her speed, pushing past how she felt. At the end of the trail, I announced our time. We had run seven nine and a half minute miles! Janet’s eyes whelmed up with tears and she hugged me. We both knew that we would not have finished in the time we did or as strong as we had if it had not been for each other.

“Two people ae better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.” Ecclesiastes 4: 7 – 12

Do you have a “Janet” in your life? Someone who knows your “injuries”, helps you to get started back on the right track and encourages you to keep going, even when it is oh, so hard? If you do, I am so happy for you! If you don’t, ask the Lord to bring someone into your life that you can be real with; someone who will not just listen, but also point you in the right direction and help you to keep pursuing Jesus no matter what!

Lynn