There are several ways for us to encourage each other! From one of my previous posts Bragging On My Mom I write about some of her creative passions that are beautiful encouraging gifts and writing prompts. But, that is not all! I write a bit about her childhood, giving you a small peak into how her family meant to destroy her creative world. They could have destroyed her giving, loving soul with no amount of encouragement her whole life. Their mental and physical abuse could have turned her into a bitter unloving woman, but instead the Lord protected her and she became the strong woman we all love.

I Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

How to Encourage Each Other

• Listen To And Give Someone Your Full Attention With Them Or On The Phone
• Greet Them With A Smile
• Read
• Gift Someone A Happy Planner, Journal And Diary
• Therapeutic And Healing Ideas- Pray together- Garden- Nature Walks- Bible Verses of Encouragement And Inspirational Quotes- List Blessings Together
• Write To Each Other- Email- Text Messages- Penpal
• Tuck Them In And Wake Them Up- Maybe Not Physically
• Funny Reels
• Plan The Month Out- Travel Destinations- Restaurants- Movies- Parties- Be Creative!
• Business Idea- Classes- Projects- Organizing Together
• *Time To Heal And To Laugh And Cry*
• Take An Interest In Their Interests
• *Stay Social With Socials*

.When you begin to listen to and give someone your full attention you are showing you are interested in what they have to say. Some people do not have anyone to share their conversation. If you are on the phone with them, eliminate distraction and tune into their thoughts. If you are in person, turn toward them looking into their eyes. With a chance to share about their day you might hear about the news of the world, family, friends and work. Keep in mind you may be the only person they get to talk with all week.

.Isn’t it wonderful and heart warming to be greeted with a smile? Have you noticed when you smile at someone they see your smile and immediately look at your eyes? Let your smile reach your eyes! Just a simple smile to a friend or stranger might be the only smile they receive that day.

.When I was really sick with a bad virus awhile back, I thought well I can’t move around but maybe I can put some good time into reading. How disappointed I was that even holding a book was exhausting and looking at the words on the page hurt my eyes. Do you know of someone who is sick and would love for someone to read to them? Go to the library, bookstore or use Kindle to read the newest novel of their favorite author or an old favorite book series they cherish.

.Gift a friend or family with a new planner, journal or diary! (I Love my Happy Planner! Check it out above in the menu on my Amazon Store!) What better way to encourage them to express dreams, thoughts, plans and passions. They may discover they love to write stories and poems. You might just be the one to start them in the right direction with a way to plan out and write about their daily life and future.

.Thinking of therapeutic and healing ideas we might picture candles lit and a nice warm bath For us! There is nothing wrong with this but someone might be healing from a sickness or battling depression. What better way to keep a connection with someone than to hold their hand and say a special prayer for them. Make a promise to continue to pray for them and keep that promise on a visible prayer list in your kitchen and on your calendar.

.Begin Community Gardening together! Choose and order seeds together, planting in a garden bed together or beside each other. Watch vegetables grow or flowers bloom just like you want your relationship together to grow and blossom! Take nature walks, talking about the weather and scenery. Provide one another with uplifting Bible verses and inspirational quotes!

.Distance keeps us apart if we go to work or school, live right down the road or in another state. Go shopping online or at the store and get stationary paper, envelopes and stamps. Become a Penpal! Send a text and email daily weekly and monthly.

.It is comforting to be tucked into bed physically, with a sweet goodnight and have pleasant dreams. It is also wonderful to have a heartfelt “Good Morning.” Make this a priority every night in person or by a Nighty Night text message. Send them a funny or feel good reel from Instagram!

.Get your own Happy Planner and plan out the month’s destinations with each other. Be creative planning out party themes, movie nights and what meals sound good. Not every destination has to be away from the house, but remember that each destination gives someone encouragement as they eagerly mark off the days on their calendar.

.Seeing how incredibly talented people are, encourage one another to start a business. Uplift them because there will be days they get frustrated, tired and emotional. Tell them their strengths! Take a cooking class or begin a project that includes research and travel like their family tree! Look at ways to organize both of your homes, schedules and time. Shop on my Amazon Store for laundry room ideas!

.I want to star this one! *Encourage each other by having time to heal and laugh and cry* Do not ignore them hoping they work through healing mentally or physically.

.Have fun taking an interest in their interests. Let them know what you like. Don’t worry if their is an age difference or you can’t cook as good as they can, etc. I love to do genealogy, looking up dead people, and writing out family trees. This may not appeal to most but people usually say how hard that must be. I briefly tell them I find out all the places they lived and what they did for a living. We just enjoy knowing someone was kind enough to make conversation on our interests in life.

.This one is in need of a star as well. *Stay social with socials* I was homebound for a few years. My About page tells why! Seeing the outside world from other people was nurturing. I saw nature photos and videos, heard of where they traveled, work and funny animal videos. People taking time to post on social media was a connection that I really enjoyed seeing and made me feel a part of life outside of my home.

Please encourage each other to laugh and cry, to live and share, to grow and bloom!