Thursday Thought Cheering One Another On …
"For lack of attention, a thousand forms of loveliness elude us every day."
– Evelyn Underhill
I appreciate it when someone cares enough to “cheer me on,” and I love to “cheer on” my friends. This, I believe, is one way in which I can fulfill the important “Law of Love.” In today’s post, I am cheering on my friend Joanie by letting you know about a valuable event she is promoting.
While I have no idea how, I imagine this pod of pelicans my husband photographed at a local lake know exactly how to cheer one another on!
When asked by a religious leader what the most important commandment was, 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 22:38-40 (NIV)
Since I desire my walk of faith to be not only theologically sound, but also personal, practical, and relevant, I tend not to judge others on how they are living out these words of Jesus. Instead, I’m prone to pray something like, Okay, Jesus I believe you said these words. I believe they are good and true, but what do they look like in my life?
One answer I am convinced I was given to this prayer was to look for opportunities to “cheer on” others in whatever they feel the Lord is calling them to do. Paul told his friends in Thessalonians 5:11 to “encourage one another and build each other up …”
Recently, I had lunch with my friend, Joanie, at a favorite restaurant. Joanie and I worked together in Care Ministries at Lake City Church in Coeur d’Alene for seven years. She does some of the finest work with folks dealing with loss and grief issues I’ve ever seen. Joanie’s passion for this field grew out of her own experiences and subsequent personal work.
While we ate, Joanie told me about a community presentation and intensive training she and her friend are bringing to our area in September with Dr. Alan Wolfelt, a world-renowned expert on loss and grief. They have invested time, finances, and energy into this event.
As I listened to Joanie’s excitement—laced with a bit of trepidation—I wondered how I could cheer on my friend. Before we went our separate ways, I offered to host a small reception at our house and told Joanie I would reach out to some other friends who might welcome this opportunity and could spread the word. I knew I could do so with full confidence since I had attended a training conducted by Dr. Wolfelt a few years ago, and it was excellent.
Our little get-together was lovely—a small group of women caring and wanting to collaborate, not compete, with one another.
If you are in the Coeur d’Alene area, I want to be one of those collaborators, and give you the following information:
EXPLORING GRIEF WITH Dr. Alan Wolfelt
September 9, 2026, 6:30-8:30 p.m. - Community event, “Understanding Grief, Finding Hope, Courage and Grace,” $10 donation encouraged. During these two hours, participants will learn practical ways to support yourself and others through grief.
September 10, 2026, 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. – Professional Training – “When Grief is Complicated.” $175.00 (Professional development credits will be available.) This intensive training opportunity will provide a model to understand, identify, and companion grievers.
For Contact Information, call (208) 699-7335 or exploringgrief@outlook.com
These events will be hosted at Hospice of North Idaho – Community Services Building, 2290 W. Prairie Avenue, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
Blessings as we continue to “cheer one another on!”
