Is your encouragement a balloon or an orchard?

Jul 11, 2013

Inflate a balloon or grow an orchard….

What’s the result of your encouragement?

Maybe there’s a reason your encouragement isn’t making a difference…

If your encouragement is “rah-rah”

with no action or helping hand,

with an edge of envy, pride or impatience,

with no 3AM prayers,

with a pitiful hope for the future

and a wishy-washy faith in what God can provide,

then your encouragement is like filling a balloon…

The balloon will either pop or slowly deflate.

That kind of encouragement provides an initial thrill,

but has no lasting effect.

However…

If your encouragement is like growing an orchard,

you’ll be planting seeds of hope constantly,

you’ll be watering those seedlings with an unshakable faith in what God is doing,

you’ll be nurturing those trees with patience, kindness, generosity, truth and trust,

you’ll be praying over the budding fruit on those trees in good weather and in bad,

you’ll be working hard all through the process –

putting your back into weeding, pruning and harvesting the fruit.

So which is it?

Are you growing an orchard with your encouragement?

Just filling a balloon…

Let your encouragement grow an orchard and bear fruit!

Lead a meaning filled life – encourage.

Inspire with Hope

Fortify with Faith

Foster with Love

Uplift with Prayer

Support with Action

Have courage – Encourage Your Spouse.

Thankful to Link with:

Living Proverbs 31 | Essential Fridays | TGIF | Alabastar Jar | Marriage Mondays

17 Comments

Val Young on July 12, 2013 at 1:44 pm

enjoyed reading today
Reply
- Lori on July 15, 2013 at 2:21 pm
  
  Thanks for reading – and commenting!
  Reply
Mel Caldicott on July 14, 2013 at 7:00 am

This post is inspiring, beautifully written and full of wisdom. I love your poetic style of bringing God’s truth to our lives. Thanks for sharing at Essential Fridays. Blessings.
Reply
- Lori on July 15, 2013 at 2:22 pm
  
  I appreciate your kind words of affirmation, Mel!
  
  And I’m thankful to connect on the web – where that big puddle of water between us has no relevance! 🙂
  Reply
Beth on July 15, 2013 at 2:04 am

It’s so much easier to blow up that balloon and walk away hoping it will last. But the orchard, even though it’s a harder task, bears “fruit” and that fruit lasts. A great analogy and encouragement, Lori! Thanks for the gentle nudge to get busy encouraging in deep and meaningful ways.
Reply
- Lori on July 15, 2013 at 2:25 pm
  
  Thanks for commenting, Beth – It’s true that the work and effort it takes to encourage in a meaningful way is WAY more difficult than a simple, thoughtless “rah-rah”, but I’ve seen the results in couples who are “all in” in their encouragement of their spouse – and the difference it makes is astounding. The affect just blows your mind! It’s list a huge harvest of blessings that can’t be quantified…
  Reply
Judith at WholeHearted Home on July 15, 2013 at 2:38 am

This was such an encouraging post. It is such a good reminder to encourage in such a way to uplift others. I followed your link over from The Alabaster Jar and I’m glad that I stopped by!!
Reply
- Lori on July 15, 2013 at 2:26 pm
  
  Happy to have you here, Judith! Thanks for your affirmation.
  Reply
Mai on July 15, 2013 at 2:27 pm

Nice comparison! Simple and yet every encouraging! 🙂 Since it’s Monday today, it’s a best time to ponder on this and start the week right! 🙂

Visiting you from the Happy Wives Club Link Up.
Reply
Kim on July 15, 2013 at 2:36 pm

I love the comparison of the balloon and an orchard for encouragement. You are so right-the balloon is much simpler and quicker to fill. The orchard, though, requires tending and faith and lots and lots of patience. The payoff is so rewarding, especially when it grows stronger relationships with our children and spouses!
Reply
- Lori on July 18, 2013 at 6:46 pm
  
  Don’t get me wrong, Kim – I AM a fan of balloons! 😉 I just couldn’t get this concept of the two images out of my head, so I needed to write it down…
  
  Thanks for commenting!
  Reply
Ashley on July 17, 2013 at 1:11 pm

Great analogy! I never thought of it this way but it makes perfect sense. Thank you for helping me to think more carefully about how I encourage others, especially my husband. 🙂
Reply
- Lori on July 18, 2013 at 6:43 pm
  
  Thanks for stopping in, Ashley – happy to connect!
  Reply
Rhiannon on July 18, 2013 at 5:19 pm

I get caught up in just being positive that I forget that encouragement and support are so much more than just cheerleading. Very lovely post, thank you.
Reply
- Lori on July 18, 2013 at 6:42 pm
  
  Thanks so much for responding, Rhiannon.
  
  Being positive – an attitude of optimism – is a great gift to your spouse and your family (and everybody else) but it’s only the beginning…
  
  Thanks for expressing the kernel of what I’m trying to convey about encouragement!
  Reply
Carolina HeartStrings on July 22, 2013 at 2:40 pm

Orchids are so beautiful and so is legitimate concern and encouragement. Good analogy!
Reply
Kim Adams Morgan on July 25, 2013 at 3:42 pm

Lori,

Thanks for visiting me today. So glad I found my way over here. I love your words of wisdom to gently nudge us from our cheering people on, to action. As Bob Goff would say, “Love Does.” What a great reminder to start with words, but don’t forget the rest of what God is commanding us to do to love our neighbor. Kim
Reply