Breanne shared a story this weekend that blessed my heart and spoke to my spirit. I want to share it with you today.
My granddaughter, Brailee, is thirteen. She loves horses and often rides in Horse Shows in our area and beyond. Earlier this year, she had a bad experience. She was thrown from a horse. When this happened, she couldn’t see and lost feeling in parts of her body. It was a scary event, to say the least. Thankfully, she is back to normal, healthy, and whole.
However, that day took a toll on her. Since then, she has not been as courageous – especially when loping or going fast on a horse. She has continued riding but is much more cautious.
This past weekend, she entered a show on a horse she had not been riding for very long. This horse is being newly trained; it has been in the field for some time without any training. It has acted up with Brailee several times, but she didn’t let that stop her. She continues to ride Nova.
Bre shared with me how, at a recent Horse Show, Brailee was a little timid and didn’t want to lope her horse – she was staying at a nice slow trot, but not going any faster. Then something amazing happened. A group of kids who happened to be competitors began to cheer for Brailee. “Let’s go, Brailee, you can do it!!!” They began to yell and encourage her. As they continued cheering her on, Breanne said you could see Brailee’s back straightened slightly, and she began to go faster. The more they encouraged her from the sidelines, the quicker she went until she easily loped around the arena.
This act of kindness brought Breanne to tears and continued to choke her up even as she shared the story with me. She had no idea who this group was but had overheard the coach telling them to cheer others on – whether they were on their team or not – they did just as their coach instructed them to.
Oh, how I wish the Body of Christ could get this!
Those kids who were showing against Brailee – going for the same ribbons – stood and cheered her on. This empowered her to push past her fear and do something she was afraid to do before. That fear that had held her captive for months drifted away simply because someone loudly and excitedly encouraged her.
As you read this, does anyone who is battling fear in one way or another come to mind? Can you think of anyone who would benefit from being cheered on?
Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up.
Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken. (Eccl 4:9-12)
Therefore, encourage (admonish, exhort) one another and edify (strengthen and build up) one another, just as you are doing. (1 Thess 5:11, AMP)
Friends, you never know what can be broken off a person if you take time to encourage one another. Perhaps you can break fear or discouragement off someone today.
The Bible says two are better than one.
Brailee was all alone in that arena, just her and her horse. But as those children began to encourage her, lift her up and cheer her on, she no longer felt alone. She was suddenly part of a team, part of a bigger picture.
So are we in the Body of Christ. We are not supposed to tear each other down – we are to lift one another up. We are to encourage each other. It’s not our job to criticize and become judgmental of one another – we are to love one another. And love does not tear down – it builds up. May we take time each day this week to encourage someone. To lift them up. To cheer them on. I believe this is the will of God for each of us.
