Encourage: A Dog’s Perspective

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

- Hebrews 10:23-25 ESV

Dogs are pretty good encouragers.

At least, I think we are.

When my human gets out of bed in the morning, I’m there.

Tail wagging.

When he puts on his shoes, I’m there.

Tail wagging faster.

And if he happens to pick up the leash, well, let’s just say encouragement takes on a whole new level of enthusiasm.

Everybody needs somebody in their corner.

And I’ve been watching humans long enough to know that sometimes you all forget that.

You can sit next to someone at church, shake their hand, ask how they’re doing, and hear, “I’m fine.”

Then everybody goes home.

But sometimes “fine” means, “I’m tired.”

Sometimes it means, “I’m hurting.”

Sometimes it means, “I’m not sure how much longer I can keep holding all of this together.”

My human says that’s one reason God gave us each other.

We were never meant to walk this road alone.

Hebrews tells us to hold tightly to our hope because God is faithful. Then it tells us to consider how we can stir one another up to love and good works.

I know a little something about stirring things up.

Usually, when I stir something up, my human tells me to settle down.

But this kind of stirring is different.

This is the kind that helps somebody keep going.

The kind that says, “I see you.”

“I’m praying for you.”

“You’re not alone.”

“Don’t give up.”

Sometimes encouragement comes through words.

Sometimes it comes through a phone call.

Sometimes it comes through sitting quietly beside somebody when words just aren’t enough.

And sometimes, encouragement simply means showing up.

Because you can’t always know what somebody is going through from a distance.

You have to be involved.

You have to get close enough to notice when their tail isn’t wagging.

That’s why gathering together matters.

Church isn’t just about showing up, singing a few songs, listening to a sermon and heading home.

It’s about being the family of God.

And families need one another.

There will be days when you’re strong enough to encourage somebody else.

And there will be days when you need somebody to encourage you.

That doesn’t make you weak.

It makes you human.

So maybe today, look around a little more closely.

Who needs encouragement?

Who needs a call?

Who needs a prayer?

Who needs you to simply show up and remind them that somebody cares?

You may not be able to fix what they’re facing.

But you can help them remember Who is walking through it with them.

And sometimes, a little encouragement can make all the difference.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, my human just moved toward the door. And that usually means something is about to happen.

Whatever it is, I plan on being right there.

Tail wagging.

Because sometimes the best thing you can do for somebody is simply let them know they don’t have to walk alone.

Amen…