Ever go to encourage someone and then discover that you have received  much more encouragement than you have given?  Last night was one of those nights.  I went “back to school” for a lesson in encouragement.  Before dinner my friend, Deidre, sent me a text – “Peggy & Scott & I going 2 sing 4 joan…can u come?”

Scott, and his mom Peggy are here visiting friends. Having spent months in the hospital with brain injury after a nearly fatal motorcycle accident, Scott wanted to spend an evening of his time here encouraging Joan, a dear sister in Christ and special friend to Deidre.  Joan is currently in ICU on a ventilator fighting for her life. She was heavily sedated when we arrived –  not conscious.  Her devoted husband was waiting in the room for our arrival.  Donning yellow gowns and latex gloves, we were escorted into her room filled with lighted machines, tubes and high pitched beeps.  Deidre’s husband, Paul, prayed.  And then we sang hymns and spiritual songs-lots of songs. Scott closed out our time with a prayer.

Psalm 42:8
By day the Lord directs his love,
at night his song is with me–
a prayer to the God of my life.

I would not have thought of extending this encouraging gesture. I assumed Joan would not be able to hear us.  The above Scripture is written in context of the psalmist’s desperate need for God’s comfort and hope.  This passage describes to me the deep comfort found in God’s love and his night-time song to me. I felt God’s love and comfort extended to Joan through the night-time songs and prayers.  I watched the touches of tenderness shown to her and through this short hour of singing I learned a deeper  meaning of encouragement.  Thank you for encouraging me with the comfort you showed to our sister.  And if you are reading this, please say a prayer for Joan. She needs our prayers.

Isaiah 49:13
Shout for joy, O heavens;
rejoice, O earth;
burst into song, O mountains!
For the Lord comforts his people
and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.