Friday, January 17, 2014

Five Minute Friday: Encouragment

It's that time of the week again.  Five Minute Friday with Lisa-Jo Baker - five minutes of unscripted, unedited writing based on the same prompt that hundreds of other bloggers are writing on today.  This week's prompt is: Encouragement.

Start

Never underestimate the power of encouragement.  It can turn someone's day around.  It can make the seemingly impossible suddenly possible.  It can stop the flow of tears and warm the heart.  You never know what battle someone is fighting.  As a new mom I am treasuring every word of encouragement I get.  The simple: you're doing a good job or keep up the good work, sometimes babies are frustrating, can make a huge differences on the days that Bean won't sleep or when he seems to be eating constantly or is crying non-stop and I have only had 3 hours of sleep in the past 24 and haven't even had time to comb my hair or brush my teeth and the mountain of laundry is beginning to look a lot like the tower of Babel.  Those are the days that encouragement makes the biggest difference.  But it makes a difference even on the ordinary days, the days when Bean is being cooperative and I have slept.  Those are the days that I need to know that I'm doing okay too.  That I'm not being neglectful by taking care of myself while Bean swings or plays on the floor.
I know the difference encouragement makes in my life, now I need to make sure I'm conscious about encouraging others.  That's the hard part.  I find that I always want encouragement, but I'm not always very good at giving it.  It's a place I need to grow.  I don't know what everyone is going through but I can encourage them too.

Stop


you would never guess from the look on that face that he had been screaming bloody murder only moments earlier...

4 comments:

Jacqui said...

Hi Joy, I linked up next to you at FMF. And I'm here to encourage you! :) Oh, those first years of motherhood! So far, those have been the ones in which I've needed the most encouragement! But I'm really not that far ahead of you and have a little one on the way...so I'll be right back there with you...mountains of laundry, sleepless nights. Keep it up! You will get through and it does get easier. And it's all worth it! Congratulations with your little bean. Blessings.

Andee Flynn said...

Oh sister! do I ever know where you are coming from! Just had a baby myself. Whew. You are not alone. Everything you wrote. I am right there with ya. It's an amazing and beautiful thing that you've found time to blog! It took me a while to be able to get back to blogging after my little one arrived. I'll be one of your cheerleaders! Excited to continue to follow your journey! Found you on fmf

Mary Hill said...

My little one is almost grown, but I remember 10 years ago being in your shoes. Take it from me; you are doing a wonderful job. Find encouragement in the fact that we know how you are feeling. Being a mom of a baby is tough and all our concentration is on raising him til he grows. I am encouraged knowing that I am not the only one who struggles with encouraing others. We have just be there for one another. :)

Mary-andering Creatively

Mary-andering Among the Pages

Pealogic said...

Good luck, I think most mums go through this. Have a look for a children's book called 5 minutes peace on a book site, it's a super read and I still read it today and my youngest is 18. Somehow it made me feel better when I was in your shoes.