Encouragement

This morning at church a woman hugged me said, "I am so glad you're here. You are such a good person. You inspire me and we really need you here."

I hugged her back and said, "Thank you but I'm not good. I have my struggles too and need your encouragement too."

She hugged me again and said, "You encourage me."

It sure was a pick-me-up because what she didn't know was:

When my alarm went off I was grumpy because I hadn't rested well.

I began to think, This is my only day off. I sure would like to stay in bed.

I have to get up and shower because yesterday was so busy that I was too tired to shower last night.

I didn't feel like being pleasant.

I have so much stuff to do around the house. When am I ever going to get it done?

I tried on 3 outfits before I settled on one. Why am I so fat? I am trying so hard to lose weight and I'm not and I'm disgusted so I might as well eat French toast and sausage.

I wondered about my kids and grandkids. Will any of them get up and go to church today? Probably only one of them. Why don't they go? What did I do wrong when I was trying to teach them to love God because He loves them?

Because my mood was so foul, I snapped at the dogs and Bill and now they were feeling bad. What is wrong with me? Why am I feeling so out of sorts?

Ugh! Lord, help me! Save me from myself! Oh Lord, I love You and will be very grateful for the chance to worship You alongside others even when, no, especially when, I least feel like it. Because then it truly is a "sacrifice of praise." Maybe someone there will be an encouragement to me today.

So thank you, lovely lady, for saying such nice things to me. By doing so, you encouraged me.

“Do not forsake your own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”

Hebrews 10:25 NASB