Encouragement: The Priceless Gift That Costs You Nothing
By Audrey Russo

Think back with me for a moment…to the last time someone sincerely gave you a compliment or word of encouragement…maybe it was about a project you worked on, or your choice of attire, or maybe the dessert you baked for a gathering. How did it make you feel? Was it a heartlift for you…perhaps in perfect timing for your heart? And what do you think it cost the one who shared the encouragement? Was it $100, $1,000, $1 million?

The price: Not one red cent…but it probably felt like a million to you.

So what’s my point? Well, instead of filling our mouths with critical or foolish words, why not begin a habit of encouraging those around us? Maybe the cashier at the supermarket or the receptionist at the doctor’s office…certainly they generally meet with careless words so often, a positive word might make their day. We should show people they really matter, as G-d shows us in personal ways every day of our lives. Speaking good into the lives of others is more powerful than we know. Proverbs 15:23 says, “A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it.”

Begin a new habit of encouragement toward the people around you…start with at least one person each day, via phone, internet or face-to-face…it takes a moment of your time…and it’s truly the priceless gift that costs you nothing!

Make New Friends, But Keep the Old

Do you value your friends? As silver and gold? Are you genuinely interested in their lives?

We hope you don't contact them only when it has something to do...with you. While there are times when you really need to talk to a friend about something, and maybe even cry on their

shoulder, if that's the only time you connect with your friend, something is wrong.

When was the last time you told your friends how much they mean to you? Even if you're not very good with words, there are numerous resources with suggestions to help you express your fondness. Gary Chapman, writes about the five love languages that you can 'speak' to communicate your love....words, gifts, affection, time spent with, doing for....The Five Love Languages .

Chapman explains how we tend to try to communicate our love to others by what communicates love to us. In other words, if the gift of time spent with you commmunicates love to you, you will seek to spend time with those you love. But, if that's not their love language they may not get the message.

When assessing the kind of friend you are to others, ask yourself when you call your friends, or get together with them, how much of the conversation is about...you? How much is it about your friends and what's going on in their lives? Hopefully it's a mutual exchange, for that is how friends are made and kept.... If you're having problems in the friend department, perhaps you should honestly ask yourself the questions above - are you a true friend to your friends?