Working Together

Working Together

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

When I first met and married my husband, we ate a lot of chicken and white rice—not because we particularly liked the bland combination, but because it was all my husband knew how to cook. I didn’t know how to cook at all—I had never boiled an egg, never made anything more complex than grilled cheese. I basically survived on Pop-Tarts and cold cereal in college.

But by the time we moved into our current home on our oldest daughter’s first birthday, I had mastered a number of dishes and developed an interest in making more things in our home from scratch. Luckily, I had several new friends who were much more accomplished in cooking, baking, and making things than I was, and they were generous in sharing their knowledge. One friend gave me a SCOBY to start making my own kombucha, while a second friend offered to pass along some sourdough starter. Another friend offered up a natural cleaning solution that helped remove my child’s ink stains from the wall and gave me long-lasting woolen balls that replaced our dryer sheets. Several friends and I pooled our resources and spent a fun evening making soap, bath salts, sugar scrubs, and lip balm. And, to this day, my friend Joy’s granola recipe is a mainstay in our household.

Although I began with a limited skill set, my friends were eager to help and never made me feel self-conscious about my shortcomings. Instead, they simply stepped in and offered their own tips and tricks for accomplishing the tasks I had set out to do. They motivated and reminded me of how God loves it when we encourage one another. Days spent with children running amok or evenings that end around a crackling fire can help foster a solid foundation of friendship.

As the years have passed, I have had the chance to pass on some of my own granola recipes to other friends who needed a boost. I’m so thankful that encouraging, wise friends helped me when I needed it and demonstrated how I could do the same. We are always, always better together.

— Kristin

— Today’s Act of Friendship —

Share your knowledge or expertise with someone else.