Be The Support

Be the Support

Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset.

Exodus 17:12

My friend Jenny has always been a huge support not only to me but to all the women in our close circle of friends. She’s not showy or loud, but she has the ability to make people feel like they matter simply by the way she listens and the way she gets involved in and engaged with activities they’re doing. She often offers to help in any way that she can and simply makes herself available when someone needs a friend. On the surface, few people may realize, see, or value all that she does, but for those of us who really know her, she is a steady rock, offering safety, friendship, and support to those around her.

Do you have a friend like Jenny in your life? Maybe you are that person, wondering if you really make any difference in the lives of those around you—Jenny has told me she often has those thoughts. But I am quick to remind her that having someone who will stand with you, even quietly, through all the good and bad times of life, remaining a stabilizing force in the midst of chaos, is something we all need desperately. Kindness can be large and loud at times, or it can come in the quietest of ways: a simple hug, an encouraging smile, a squeeze of the hand, a reassuring presence—these things all count as kindness, and they all matter.

The Bible offers a wonderful story of friendship and support. In the Old Testament, Moses needed to hold his arms up, and as long as he did, the Israelites would continue winning the battle they were engaged in. As soon as his arms fell, they’d begin to lose. Noticing this, Moses’ friends, Aaron and Hur, held his arms up so that his hands would hold steady and the Israelites would win. What a beautiful picture of the kindness we can show to one another, holding each other up when someone is weary or weak.

—Kendra

— Today’s Act of Kindness —

Come alongside a friend who may need help holding their hands steady, and offer them encouragement.