Be an Encourager

Colossians 4:7-8
Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts.

Photo by Maggie Jowers

Our minister’s words about encouragement wrapped around me. For nine years, I’d been employed in an elementary school as a paraprofessional. During that time, I oversaw the library. I wasn’t a teacher, or an administrator, I was what the system at the time called an aide. After I left the school and moved on in my career, the term paraprofessional was used in educational circles instead of aide. The word sounded more professional, but I didn’t realize the true meaning until the minister’s sermon. Parakaleō is the Greek term for encourage. Para means to come alongside. The light bulb in my head glowed with brilliant light. As a paraprofessional, I had come alongside the teachers and helped them meet the students’ needs.

At my daughter’s school where she teaches, there are several of these wonderful people who come alongside and encourage the teachers and students. They offer help and words of kindness in any way they can.

The apostle Paul sent Tychicus to the Colossian church to encourage the hearts of the people. As a believer, God wants me to have an encouragers heart. I do my best to see the best in people and offer kind words. With so much negativity in the world, a kind word goes a long way. If you see someone doing good, compliment the person. If you see a child offering kindness to another one, applaud them. When a person is down, lift them up with a caring attitude. Life is tough and we need to hold each other up.

Find someone to encourage this week. Parakaleō is the way to go.