I have the privilege of living in Lima, Peru and living my life amongst the Peruvians. One thing that I love about them is the way that they delight in the achievements of others and encourage others so freely. Western Culture, my home culture, often doesn’t allow room for it. It is often about success; about being the best and competition. Doing your best is a great kingdom quality, but how often do we get taken in by the ‘pushing others down to make ourselves look better’?
My oldest son is 2 ½ and has been swimming by himself for a year now. His ability has become noticed at the local pool. I have had numerous mothers come up to me and tell me how great it is, that he is going to be a champion, etc! It has made me question whether I would do the same thing in the same circumstances, or whether I would be jealous and avoid the family because they made me feel inadequate?
And then there are words of encouragement that people give me that I never wanted to accept for fear of being proud or making others feel inadequate. Obviously we need a balance, but why am I sometimes so quick to reject words of life rather than embrace them and let God increase those giftings in my life?
1 Thessalonians 5:11 tells us “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up.” The Peruvians are teaching me about this. On the second meeting with some new friends, before they went, they gave us a speech about how important we were to them, that they were so encouraged by God sending us to their country and how God was going to use us amazingly here. My husband, Mark, and I just sat there speechless, trying not to giggle nervously – we hardly knew these people and they were giving us a speech like people in the UK give when someone is about to die or has turned 50 or going away for a VERY long time! But at the same time, we felt encouraged and loved and built up. 1 Thessalonians 5 was being lived out in our lives.
Since then I have learnt how important words of encouragement are to the Peruvian people and in fact, how lack of them can seem cold and discouraging. They are expected; they are needed and they are SO powerful! We have all experienced the life that a word of encouragement can bring us. And so, logically, without them, there may be parts of our lives and of the lives around us that are still dead, or dormant, because life hasn’t yet been breathed into them. Slowly, I am getting over my uncomfortable British awkwardness and trying to encourage others at every opportunity – I am choosing not to let my fear of looking stupid prevent me from speaking life to others.
Will you join me? Who needs your encouragement today?
