My daughter and I were recently reading The Scarecrow’s Dance by Jane Yolen. In this story a scarecrow gets blown off his post and in his happiness of freedom he takes off dancing from the cornfields. He comes to a window at the farm house, where he looks in on a little boy saying his prayers.
“And bless tonightOur old scarecrowWho guards the fieldsAnd each corn rowSo that tomorrow,When we reap,There will be lots of corn to keep.”
Touched by hearing his purpose he danced all the way back to those fields, and feeling proud of his duty to defend the corn leaped back on to his post.
Everyone needs encouragement to stand tall with purpose
From a mother’s perspective I held back tears. For how many times does the job of a mom feel thankless and trapping? I’m so thankful for the times my family have let me known why I’m important to them. Knowing what we mean to our family will give us purpose and joy as we fulfill our maternal duties.
But it’s not just moms. Everyone needs words of encouragement and life spoken to them! All of us long for purpose. The single woman who lives away from her family, the widower or the retired couple, the teenager, the parents of the teenager, the young couple couple without children. All of us!
Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works. Hebrews 10:24
Preparing for Thanksgiving
As we are preparing to gather with friends and family for Thanksgiving might I offer a suggestion? Let’s use Thanksgiving as an opportunity to let those we love know why we value them. It doesn’t have to be a formal ceremony! You might make a comment to them about how they are making a difference, or perhaps a short handwritten note to them as they leave. You could publicly share your thoughts at the Thanksgiving table, everyone taking turns to talk about someone.
However it’s done, let’s fill our Thanksgiving guests not only with food but also with purpose so that when the weekend is over and they return to normal life they will know that they matter. If you are the host or not, I encourage you to find a way to speak words of purpose to those you are celebrating Thanksgiving with. Would’t it be wonderful to know they might stand tall like the proud scarecrow on his post, filled with honor for the duties they hold? What do you say? Let’s celebrate Thanksgiving by honoring the precious people God has put in our lives!
Be encouraged by these posts as well!
I am a girl who loves to sit with a cup of coffee and daydream. I am most passionate about Jesus, my family, and family ministry. My husband and I live in Oklahoma with our two precious daughters. I spend my days with my girls, discovering and growing alongside them! You can usually find us either in our sunroom, the park, or taking long walks through Target. 🙂
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This is a lovely post. There have been so many times where I’ve thought, I just want you to appreciate me (to my son). He’s 16 now and actually when I look at the wonderful young man he is, that’s actually all that I need. I know my efforts were not wasted.
I find a lot of “Mom encouragement” from blogs and books. I’m thankful for that since kiddos often don’t express it to us in a way that we hear. 🙂
i love this! I am definitely going to let my parents and in-laws know I value them.
I’m so glad! I will be looking for ways to do that as well!
I leave this post encouraged to pray for and encourage others to stand tall. And to stand tall with them! I also put the book on my wishlist – I love to read a beautiful book for children (although I’m old) now and then!
I love children’s books as well. The Scarecrow’s Dance is a wonderful book! I’m glad you were encouraged!
That sounds like an awesome book! Standing tall with purpose and encouraging others to do the same is so important. I love how you encouraged us all to not just be thankful at this time, but to show others how thankful we are for them.
“Do unto other as you would have them do unto you.” I’m not always great at doing this but God was wise in giving us that rule, don’t you think? 🙂
I needed this! You are so right. Sometimes we get bogged down with all of our motherly duties and feel like we don’t really matter. Thanks for the reminder that we have a great purpose! I will also try to do better about recognizing others as well!
I’m so glad you were encouraged. I think we all need to hear our value now and then. It’s so easy to forget!
Yes!! Everyone needs encouragement! I want to stand y’all with purpose today and give encouragement to everyone I meet.
Wonderful! So glad you were encouraged!
Good advice. We should always be looking for ways to encourage others. 🙂
Absolutely! It’s so easy to forget.
I love when you said, “But it’s not just moms. Everyone needs words of encouragement and life spoken to them! All of us long for purpose. The single woman who lives away from her family, the widower or the retired couple, the teenager, the parents of the teenager, the young couple couple without children. All of us!”
So often as a mama, I get caught up in the crazy and forget to encourage others – this was a timely post – thank you for sharing!
I’m right there with you! I hope we will both be able to see outside of ourselves this holiday season! 🙂
I think you’re right, we all need encouragement! What a great suggestion to tell others what they mean to us this Thanksgiving! I love the verse graphic too:)
Thank you! I’m glad you were encouraged!
That’s such a great analogy of our llives in Christ. Sometimes we don’t understand our purpose and feel stuck when really, we are right where we belong.
So so true! I’ve learned to start praying, asking God to help me see the opportunity he puts before me.
Sure would be a lot nicer to talk about what you appreciate about people rather than the gossip-fest that some Thanksgiving tables turn into, right?! 😛 This is great admonishment, like Eph. 4:29 echos: Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
Beautiful post. I agree everyone needs encouragement. I try to give my colleagues and blogger friends encouragement by patting them when I see something good. I realise now I don’t encourage my family members much. Thank you for this.
I love the story of the scarecrow. What a poignant anaology to or loves!
Love your suggestion about how to make Thanksgiving a time of encouragement and blessing. Great idea!