TUNE INTO THE SPIRIT AND RESPOND WITH ENCOURAGEMENT

Welcome to Friday Footsteps, a regular column here at Living InWords, where my hope is to encourage you as we head into the weekend. I don’t know about you, but I need regular encouragement in this often hard world!

ENCOURAGE (verb): to give courage, hope, or confidence to; embolden; hearten

Collins English Dictionary

If you have a pet, you know what a source of hope they can be. I often feel heartened after interacting with my dog, Zayla Rose. She’s so responsive with nose nudges, kisses, and a look that just melts me!

Today while I was getting dressed to take Zay outside to play Frisbee®, she was ⚊ in the words of my mom ⚊ like a fart in a mitten; there just wasn’t enough room for that level of activity in my walk-in closet!

Now I’m sure you don’t do this, but I was actually talking to the dog like she was human. “Zayla! I expect more from you. You can just wait patiently for me to get dressed.” And then I put her in a down. Twice. But as I continued chattering at her about good manners, she suddenly laid down on her own.

“It’s good when you can anticipate what your master wants and just do it,” I praised her.

And as those words hung in the air, my spirit quickened within me.

Yes, it’s good when we can anticipate what our Master wants and just do it. May you be so tuned into the Holy Spirit this weekend that you anticipate the next right thing and respond without hestiation.

• Pay it forward at the drive thru.
• Call that person God keeps placing on your heart.
• Run ahead to hold the door for that mom with the stroller.
• Give a little more ⚊ of your time, money, resources ⚊ with a cheerful heart.

And with every exchange, smile. It will hearten the both of you.

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