Encouragement For The Journey - The One Year Daily Acts of Kindness Devotional

Encouragement for the Journey

If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging.

Romans 12:8

Each spring I attend a friendship coffee gathering at a local moms’ group that I am a part of, during which we celebrate the end of another year of meeting weekly to grow in God’s Word and support one another in our parenting. This year we celebrated the twenty-fifth anniversary of the group by bringing back many of the leaders who founded it all those years ago. The leaders shared how they began with just a few women, mainly because they were lonely and needed community. That small group of women is now a thriving group of well over one hundred moms who gather each week to support one another, grow in their faith, and pray for each other. Many weary moms have found hope and built lifelong friendships through the group.

But community isn’t something that is needed only by parents. We all need support from people who understand us, no matter where we find ourselves in life. We were made to be in relationship with others, and finding those who are journeying similar paths as we are, who can understand us, show compassion and kindness, and spur us on can be so helpful, especially when we’re discouraged.

We are called to encourage each other, and what better way to do that than by coming alongside someone who is in a situation similar to what we’ve experienced and offering them some kindness through our words or deeds? Maybe you have adopted a child and have wisdom to offer someone else who is considering adoption. Maybe you’re working in a career where you can give advice to those thinking about entering the same field. Or maybe you’re a grandparent who can offer a young couple some encouragement as they look to start their own family.

Wherever we find ourselves in life, we can look behind us and find others walking the same road. Let’s take these opportunities to offer wisdom and encouragement. We’re never too young or too old to offer kindness and hope to others.

—Kendra

— Today’s Act of Kindness —

Think of someone who is going through a situation you’ve walked through before, and offer them some wisdom and encouragement for their journey.