Encourage

Merciful God, today I give thanks for those who make the effort to encourage the people around them. We are surrounded by messages telling us to fear one another and compete with one another. Then along come these gracious souls who call out strengths, not weaknesses; who remember accidental kindness, not accidental foolishness. These silly people act as if the world is not ruled by scarcity in a zero-sum game. They act like there is plenty of room and love for all of us. I ask You to bless them, God, but it is clear that You already have, for they know something of divine abundance. Bless the rest of us, that we might know it, too. Amen.