Why not encourage someone today?

Some weeks ago, I was reading in Revelation 12, where Satan is called "the accuser" who accuses believers both day and night. I remember thinking that, if one of the enemy's primary weapons is accusation and discouragement, then we can come in the opposite spirit by encouraging and affirming one another, instead of joining with him in pulling each other down.

This morning I got to thinking than even non-believers need encouragement, and so I set myself a goal for today of encouraging ordinary people for their faithfulness in their ordinary, everyday things. As I set off for the library, there was a town council worker, mowing the grass and clearing up leaves in the little park in front of my house. As I thanked him for his work, and the way it made the park look so nice, he waved and wished me a good day. At the end of my street, a shop worker was busy cleaning a huge plate glass window. As I commented on her good job and said it must be a lot of work cleaning all those finger prints off, day after day, she smiled and said she didn't think anyone even noticed her faithfulness.
Around the corner, a man was using a machine to clear up litter and debris on the pavement. As I thanked him for his work and said how nice and clean it looked, he at first looked at me suspiciously, as if I had an ulterior motive for thanking him. Then he finally smiled and said, "Gracias, Señora." People's surprised reaction when encouraged is probably an indication that we don't thank and encourage each other enough. Why not ask God to show you who you could affirm or encourage today? It just might make someone's day.