Within the past few weeks, I had several exchanges with someone who wasn’t all that encouraging, and I felt it. Or I should say, I felt the lack. Around that time, Seth Godin came up with one of his priceless little blogs, which I repeat here in its entirety:

500 Ways

There are thousands of ways to express encouragement and enthusiasm and support. Few of them require a blood oath or even much inconvenience.

“I’m thrilled that you’re contributing.”

“Can’t wait to see how this turns out.”

“I know someone who really needs to hear about this.”

“Go make a ruckus, it matters.”

If we want things to get better, it helps to encourage people who are eager to make things better. – Seth Godin, March 31, 2023

As I read this good word, I couldn’t help but contrast it with the Ten Commandments. I don’t think encouragement is in there. But it is in here:

One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22.35 – 40, NIV, Jesus quoting Deuteronomy 6.5 and Leviticus 19.18)