Today is the National Day of Encouragement!!!

Blessings of many kinds to all of my dear readers. I hope and pray this day holds many good things in store for you and for those around you.

To give encouragement is to give compassion, give confidence, and give courage.  It is an opportunity to recognize and affirm those incredible people around you.  It is a chance to foster hope within the heart of another, helping them to take the next steps in their journey.  Encouragement can uplift downcast hearts, can bring smiles to faces, and can offer support to weary souls.

This is a day to build one another up, spurring on good deeds and love. Historically, I have undertaken a specific project to try to offer encouragement based and celebrate the day. One year it was letter writing. One year it was a Post-it challenge to leave little messages of hope around.

This year, I am embracing a new approach where I infuse every task, project, and activity with an abundance of JOY. Rather than simply completing them, I will delightfully sprinkle blessings over all that I do, elevating each moment and giving it just a bit more love, passion, and enthusiasm.

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)

These are some of my favorite Bible verses. As I have been reading them recently the word HOW has been sticking out. HOW can I do the things I already need to do, but intentionally be encouraging and joyful?

I’m a list maker. Here are the ways I am challenging myself today.

HOW to Sprinkle JOY

• Smile
• Speak less, listen more
• Be a focused listener, not a distracted one
• Ask thoughtful questions to those around me to give them a chance to share
• Don’t whine or complain
• Do a little extra without being asked
• Look for reasons to offer little prayers
• Help someone complete a task they don’t want to do
• Watch for opportunities to enable others to use their gifts
• Be grateful, give thanks, and express appreciation
• Offer Hugs
• Give little delights when I can
• Overlap what I am doing with what others need – running errands for others when I go for myself, grabbing a second for someone else
• Respond in a timely manner and an upbeat way
• Reach out right away when someone crosses my mind

It’s not an all inclusive list, but it’s a good one to keep handy to help challenge myself to Sprinkle Joy

Prayer

Beloved Lord, thank you so much for these incredible readers. Thank you for all of the incredible gifts that you have given them. Please sprinkle their days with a generous and abundant measure of JOY!!! May they encounter many moments filled with a goodness that encourages them and helps them press on through all that they have in their day.

Lord, may how we do things bring you joy and honor and glory. May it make us more like you today, and each day that follows. May we feel your grace and mercy in all our moments spurring us on, especially when we face challenges of many kinds. In the encouraging name of Jesus, amen.