Find Faith, Hope, and Encouragement for Your Walk with God

think one of the biggest understatements I can make is saying this is a busy week. Rob is traveling, I am traveling with both military and civilian demands, Hope has a dance competition…and the list goes on. These are the weeks when it’s all hands on deck and everyone chips in to make sure key times are not missed and to provide relief when needed. Some say it takes a village, we live in that village! I could not have the freedom to focus and do what I need to do with work if I did not have others willing to help carry the weight of all that is needed back home. “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2, NIV). God calls us to help each other, to treat each other as Christ treated the least of us while He walked this earth.

I don’t know about you, but days where I have long meetings can be draining. Even more draining when it is a few days back to back. This has been one of those weeks! On days, weeks, like this, I find great comfort and uplifting in laughter. “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones” (Proverbs 17:22, NIV). It is so easy to focus on the long days, and as noted in the Proverb, find yourself drained of life as the sun begins to set. Instead, our team found laughter throughout yesterday and today. It makes the days not just bearable, but enjoyable-cheerful.

A ripple effect is defined as something that triggers a chain reaction or a series of events expanding like the ripples seen in water. One small action, one small thing, can create a widespread impact. I love this visual of the concentric circles expanding from one common center, one action. That’s how I felt this weekend after my promotion ceremony. I don’t think I could have asked for a better day. The arrangements were beyond anything I could have imagined or desired and the team that put it together made the day feel even more special. Having my family and friends there or online to witness my ceremony reminded me of all the times they stood by me on this journey. After introductions, I stood in front of the attendees and started my speech with simple words, one little action. I thanked God, first and foremost, for being the foundation in my life where all else grows. I then shared Ecclesiastes 3:12-13, the same verses I shared in my blog last week. Little did I know the ripple effect that would occur from those simple words.