Today, I invited a friend, pastor’s wife, and brand new author to share with us. Leah has been a great encouragement to me through the modern miracle of social media. I am thrilled about her book, Expecting Grace, and I am so glad she has taken the time to share her heart with us. If you like what you read here, visit her blog at embracingrace.com or click over to Amazon and get her e-book for only $3.99!
Sunday morning, in the church foyer, two little girls chattered. Like magnets, Tiny Daughter and “new girl” had found each other and had stayed together all morning.
I listened in as Tiny Daughter’s voice chirped out a phrase of friendship: “You can be my new sister!” she pronounced with gusto. She didn’t even know her name yet.
New Girl smiled. Tiny Daughter went on, “You can come to my house with your mommy, and your mommy and my mommy can be friends. You can even stay in my room. You can be my new sister!” She proclaimed her intentions loudly, and I marveled.
Marveled at how easily Tiny Daughter makes friends…how she reaches out to other little people she doesn’t even know. No walls in her heart; she doesn’t know that people are “supposed” to have walls. (I’m so glad) I watch my little one and realize that she found the door in this other little person’s heart.
She goes farther than “hello,” skips over “how are you, I’m fine,” races past “will you be my friend?” and goes right to “you can be my sister.”
In 1 Thessalonians 2, Paul writes about the deep care he had for the folks in the church at Thessalonica, “But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.”
Isn’t that a beautiful picture of the encouragement we could be to each other as women?! So many soft words in those verses: gentle, affectionate, cherish, willing, dear. My heart is often heavy for women everywhere who are hurting. As a pastor’s wife, I see the situations. I do the counseling. I hear the stories. My heart breaks with each one. Women suffer heartbreak from many different sources, and they desperately need gentle soul care.
We are called to give our very souls to each other through earnest prayer and encouraging, edifying words. If we’re looking for them, we’ll find many opportunities to be affectionate toward each other in meeting practical needs (this means we have to take the time to find out what the needs are!). In truth, everyone needs a soul sister.
“He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3
God understands the heartbreak of the people He created. He wants to meet you in your pain. Pour in oil and soothe the hurt. He wants to use other people to help you heal, and He wants to use YOU to help others heal. God put us on the earth together for a reason- because we NEED each other.
Today and every day, minister intentionally to other women. Reach out to perfect strangers that God brings across your path. Sometimes a simple smile or kind word can revolutionize a person’s whole demeanor. God can use even the tiniest things to open doors of further opportunity to build friendships and to share the Gospel. And while you’re looking for those “appointments,” celebrate with fellow believers the blessings of being women of God. Share Scripture with them, build them up, write notes to them, hug them, cry with them, laugh with them, pray with them. Infuse encouragement into them. You know the God Who heals, so let Him use you to be a balm in someone’s soul.
The precious part? While you’re reaching out, God will be healing the wounds in your own heart.
You will be amazed.
Leah Highfill accepted Christ as her Saviour and became a child of God at the age of 18. A United States transplant to Canada almost 8 years ago, she enjoys serving in full time ministry as a pastor’s wife and a mom to two medical miracles. She homeschools her 6 year old and teaches private piano lessons on the side. When she’s not involved with family or church, she can be found writing/blogging, playing the piano, or ice skating. She considers her life to be an ongoing testimony of God’s incredible grace! Leah has a passion to inspire and encourage women in their walk with God, to reach out to other pastor’s wives, and to support women who are facing difficult pregnancies. Her first book, Expecting Grace, has just been published. Expecting Grace is the story of Leah’s experience and survival of a life threatening pregnancy, and of many miracles along the way. Join her journey at Embracingrace.com.