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5 Ways to Encourage a Family Near You

Do you ever think to encourage a family near you whether in your church or down the street in your neighborhood?  We talk a lot about hospitality, and this is very important – opening up your home to those you know in order to build relationships and to share the Gospel.  Hospitality is a worthy endeavor indeed, but what about just taking small chunks of time to encourage families you see out and about in your daily life?

5 Ways to Encourage a Family Near You

I have been thinking about small ways that I could encourage families that I see on the street or that I know personally. It isn’t always possible to invite people over to your home, but that should not negate encouraging others, providing for needs, and building Titus 2 relationships.

Too often our culture is concerned with self. By taking some time to be Christ to other families, you are not only serving them, but you are also providing your own children a great testimony of Christ’s love and a life lived in obedience to the Gospel.  In that light, here are five simple ways you can be Christ to another family near you.

  1. If you see a family praying together in public, go and thank them for honoring the Lord in family prayer. Tell them how special it is to see a family praying together in public.
  2. If you see a family with well-behaved children, tell the parents what a wonderful job they have done raising such bright and well behaved children. Don’t forget to tell the children, as well, how impressed you were with their good behavior.
  3. If you see a family with ill-behaved children, please don’t cast your judgmental glances.  Offer to help that mom get her grocery shopping done. Give an encouraging word to her about how motherhood can be so hard, and even though it doesn’t always feel like a blessing it truly is, and these stages will pass. Invite her for a play date, her family over to dinner, OR to church!
  4. Take more initiative!  Often we are afraid to get too close to people.  If there is a mom at church who looks overwhelmed, ask her how you can help. Offer to clean her bathroom, cook her a meal, or watch her kids.  I think we could all think of a time when we would have liked that to be done for us!
  5. Put your money where your mouth is.  Do you have a little extra cash in the budget?  Would you consider having a separate savings just for this?  If you see a family praying over their meal at a restaurant, pay for their food.  If you see a mom and dad overwhelmed, send them out on a date.  We have personally been blessed in these ways over the years, and I know other families who have, and you have no idea what a ministry this is to their souls.  It is encouraging in ways you cannot even dream unless you have been there.  It is $40 out of your pocket for a lifetime Gospel witness to them and their children.  The investment is worth more than you know.

I encourage you and your family to join this challenge with me, of making more of Christ by your actions. We are called to be disciples, going forth and intentionally sharing the Gospel. How can we share if we are not intentionally forming relationships? By encouraging families you meet on the street and are acquainted with, you are sure to form some relationships that will open the door to sharing the Gospel and being a living testimony of His work in your own life.

Find joy in bringing joy to others.

How do you enjoy serving other families? Or have been blessed in one of these ways or in some other way? We would love to hear from you!

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