We walked into their lounge. Our translator asked us to say a few words of encouragement to the two men in the room. My mind went blank.
Once a week, we went to visit a nursing home in Uzhgorod, the city we have been in for the month. The first time, we visited individuals in their rooms. Of course, there was a language barrier, but we had a great translator. In each room, the folks we visited began to share memories and stories from their lives. One woman talked about her love for creativity and her hunger to have the creative be a significant part of her life. Yet she went on to say that she could no longer write or draw because her stroke had taken that away from her. Another woman, a small, bright-eyed beautiful grandmother took the chocolate we gave her and hid it under her blanket. We erupted in laughter together over that and she proceeded to sing songs to me while holding my hands close to her.
It was easy with them because they were doing all the talking. I was content to listen.
So when we came upon the two old friends sitting in the lounge together and our translator asked us to speak encouragement to them, I had no words. I remember rattling off something generic like: “Thank you for letting us come visit! It has been a blessing spending time here. We love Ukraine! Your country is very beautiful.” I meant those words, yes, but they did not come from my heart, to be honest.
Afterwards, our translator gave us some of the best feedback I’ve received. He spoke words that have shifted something in my heart.
He said, “You girls have Christ in you. That means, at any given moment, you can ask Him for the words to say to someone. If you feel you do not have words, ask the Lord. Christ lives in you and speaks through you. A little encouragement spoken to someone can go farther than you realize. Always embrace this gift you have been given. Every conversation is an opportunity to glorify the Lord or speak love to someone.”
He was very kind about it. He spoke without condemnation or judgment. Yet, his gentle reminder revealed to me that I had nearly taken for granted this gift we have. We don’t have to always have the words to say to someone. But we need to remember that the Lord will give us words if we ask him. The Lord knows exactly the words each person needs to hear at any given moment, and if he speaks through his people, he can speak through you and me.
