When someone encourages you, that person helps you over a threshold you might otherwise never have crossed on your own.

 There are times of great uncertainty in every life. Left alone at such a time, you feel dishevelment and confusion like gravity.

When a friend comes with words of encouragement, a light and lightness visit you and you begin to find the stairs and the door out of the dark.

The sense of encouragement you feel from the friend is not simply her words or gestures; it is rather her whole presence enfolding you and helping you find the concealed door.

The encouraging presence manages to understand you and put herself in your shoes.

There is no judgement but words of relief and release.

~John O'Donohue (excerpt from Eternal Echos

 Each day is a gift and I am increasingly grateful for the people in my life, my family, friends, colleagues and community who offer encouragement, friendship and comeradery. This makes all the difference and with even the simplest gesture of caring, we bring light and love into one anothers lives!

We are loved, we are beloved, we are love…

Liz Wessel

Photo: my boys lovin' stray kittens