Encourage

What a time we live in! Who would have dreamed two months ago that a submicroscopic infectious agent that can only replicate inside a living cell of an organism would turn the world upside down? 

Some of you are hunkered down with family members, but Cheryl and I are unable to have anyone in our home at this time because my immune system has been compromised. 

Yesterday Jeremy and Darby drove up to run some errands for us. They bought feed for the animals and a few grocery items. It was so hard not to hug them or get close to them. We did virtual hugs, but that did not help the heartache of not being able to touch them. 

I have not been a fan of social media, but now we are using it more to stay in touch. Cheryl has been on FaceBook for years, but she is one of those who just reads and never responds (so don’t expect to hear from her!). I am a stalker—I look over her shoulder to look at pics of our grandchildren. Most grandkids aren’t into blogs. They want something shorter and more instant gratification. So, recently I set up an Instagram account—again to keep up with grandkids and what is going on in their lives. (LarryCox354) We have a family group set up on the ap called Marco Polo, so we love sending video messages back and forth. You can create silly messages using weird voices. OK. Some of you are thinking that radiation fried Larry’s brain! Remember that we have 15 grandkids so I don’t mind acting like one of the preschoolers. 

FaceTime has been a wonderful tool for many years for our family as we have been so separated by oceans. It would have been so great to have had such technology when we lived in West Africa where our only communication was snail mail, and this was truly the pace of a snail as it took 3 weeks for an air letter (described in a previous blog) to get to us. To help you understand how little technology was available at that time, when we left Burkina Faso in May 1987 I had only seen one personal computer at a USAID office, and our mission office in Ouagadougou had just bought its first fax machine. 

But we have all these wonderful devices and software available now and I believe that God would be pleased with us if we were to use all this technology to encourage one another. This morning I called a few church members just to encourage them. I think it made them feel better and it surely made me feel good. Cheryl called some widows in our church earlier this week. Those were important connections with the family of God. 

While you are encouraging family members and church family, don’t forget to pray for those who are still working to provide electricity, gas and water for us and for those who who are providing other services such waste disposal, transportation of goods, stores which are providing us with food and supplies, and on and on. 

Don’t forget the first responders. Our son-in-law, Jeff, is a firefighter and his twin brother, John, is a police officer here in Rome, Georgia. Jeff is also an EMT so he is the first contact at most emergencies and cannot keep from getting in the face of victims. Pray for these women and men who are keeping us safe. When you have the opportunity, encourage them, buy their meals if they are in the drive-through, take some homemade cookies by the police station or fire hall. 

Times of crisis brings out the best in most people. Encourage one another! 

For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you, that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine. - Romans 1:11-12