Every summer of my childhood my family attended our town’s Fourth of July parade.
One year a kind-faced man in a striped hat marched beside the bands, fire engines, and Revolutionary War reenactors.
As he walked in step with the beat of the drum, he drew near to the curb where my sisters and I sat. Reaching into his vest pocket, he extracted three shiny half dollar coins and pressed them into our hands. We pocketed our treasures and grinned for the rest of the day.
It’s been a long time since we received those unexpected gifts, but the memory lingers. Although I never saw the Money Man again, God has brought other kind and generous people into my life. Like him, they leave unexpected treasures behind and make me smile.
My friend Lydia is one of them.
I met Lydia when I was a young mother, struggling to figure out how to parent and homeschool my two daughters. Although she was spiritually mature and wise, she never made me feel like she was looking down on me. Every time we hung out together, she’d say something to lift my spirits or build me up.
I remember sharing my frustration with her one gloomy winter day.
“Some days I spend so much time breaking up squabbles and making sure my kids do what they’re supposed to do that I barely have time to teach math and reading. They complain about doing their chores and wait ‘til the last minute to finish their assignments. Yesterday I sent the youngest to clean her room. She finished in ten minutes and ran out the door. When I checked behind her, she’d stuffed everything under the bed and into the closet. Sometimes I get so angry I yell,” I admitted, afraid to meet her eyes.
“Lori,” she said, “You’re building good habits into your children. It takes time to see results. Remember what Deuteronomy 6 says about training our children ‘when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up’? One day all this will bear fruit. You’re doing a great job.”
Lydia has the gift of encouragement.
Today’s culture calls it positivity. In the spiritual realm, it’s the God-given ability to see the good side of everything—even disobedient children or difficult days—and find something redeeming in it. But more than just saying something to help me feel better, she points me to the hope and encouragement of God’s Word.
This makes all the difference.
When I lose perspective, Lydia reminds me of what’s true. She exemplifies what the apostle Paul spoke of when he instructed the Philippian believers,
“whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Philippians 4:8).
She models how to think good things and speak them aloud for others to hear. She calls attention to what’s noble. She praises what is lovely and true.
One day, basking in the warm glow of something Lydia had said, I decided, I want to be like Lydia (and Paul, and Jesus). I want to build people up and encourage them.
The coins the Money Man dropped into my sisters’ and my hands that Fourth of July had little material value, but they brought us great delight. The same is true of carefully chosen words of affirmation. And when we pair encouraging words with the truth of Scripture, the combination is powerful and life giving. Unlike the coins in the kind man’s pocket that eventually ran out, the twin treasures of affirmation and biblical encouragement never run out.
Lord Jesus, help me use my words to build others up and reflect the love you have for us. Remind me not only to think good things, but to speak them to others. In the strong name of Jesus I ask, Amen.
Does Your Faith Need Refreshing?
It’s probably been too long since you’ve newly discovered a story that speaks to your soul or a verse that pops with truth. But that’s about to change!
Refresh Your Faith contains 66 culturally relevant, story-driven devotions, one from each book of the Bible. Each real-life story spotlights an unusual verse or Bible passage that you may have overlooked in your usual Bible reading. Lori Hatcher challenges you with additional features like an uncommon thought to ponder; an unusual faith action step; and an unfamiliar passage suggestion for additional Bible reading.
When the fabulous has become familiar and your quiet times are more like nap times, it’s time to step out of spiritual boredom and ignite the spark that will keep you growing. No matter where you are on your faith journey, Lori’s conversational and engaging style will challenge you to think about things you’ve never thought about before.
“Real-life inspiration and candid wit. These 5-minute devotions will change your life.” —Psychologist and best-selling author Dr. Kevin Leman, commenting on Lori Hatcher’s devotional style
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