Don't faint, guys - I know this is twice in one week to post! I had to share the disposition of my penultimate (it's a good word - look it up) encouraging card from DaySpring. Most of the cards found their perfect home with people at church, but there was one.... hmm.... it was SPECIAL. It details how life is hard, how the recepient is handling it, then it opens up & BAM! Encouragement! This may not be the best description, so you can see it here.
Today, I left this card, along with a handwritten line about how she's STILL doing a great job, for my boss to find in her mailbox at work. Sucking up, you say? Not in the least. School started almost a month ago, and in that time, she has lost ten employees, out of 55, to either retirement, long-term bereavement leave, promotion, or just plain "I'm mad about my assignments, so I'm going home for a semester." Kinda makes her job hard to do, you know?
So, I left her the card. Just so she knows that SOMEone out there cares, and knows she's trying as hard as she can. If you want to call that sucking up, OK. I call it encouragement.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Sunday, September 12, 2010
National Day of Encouragement
(Note: (in)courage is having a MONTH of encouragement this June, 2011. I wrote this post back in September, using the cards I received free from them. Go to this post to read about what I did with the last card in the set)
Two weeks ago, one of my favorite websites, (in)courage, began talking about the National Day of Encouragement. This just happens to be today! Because of their grace and generosity, I was one of the lucky ones to receive a packet of encouraging cards from DaySpring to share with others. I receive them on Friday, just in the nick of time, and started looking at all of them. I had several people in mind who needed encouraging, and this packet nailed all their needs. So here's what I did this morning:
There was a card about having a bad day; or a bad week; or a bad YEAR - this one went to our church's Worship Minister, who is going through some really trying personal stuff right now (like all year he's been going through it!) Card: perfect!
There was a card about someone having the courage to speak, show, and live the Scripture - this one went to our Pastor, who has been preaching through Revelation since February. Card: perfect!
There was a card about meeting for coffee and sharing your lives (it's on the (in)courage site today) - this one went to a church friend who has BEEN a friend to me. Card: perfect!
There was a card about friendship - along with a loaf of fresh-baked wheat bread, this one went to a newer friend at church who has been befriending me, and encouraging ME. Card: perfect (and the bread didn't suck, either)!
There were other cards which were generically encouraging; those went to our Youth Minister, our Children's Director, and our Preschool Director.
There was one more card, and it just stood out from the rest; it speaks of having a big yellow umbrella to walk through the rain with someone to shield them. Inside the card, it says (in so many words) "but I don't have a big yellow umbrella, so I'll just walk through the rain with you." Oh, man. THIS one went to a younger lady at church whose family is having a TIME with her rebellious stepson. This one card went way beyond perfect - it could not have been more encouraging.
So let me encourage you on this National Day: life's hard, yes. Sometimes it sucks, yes. Usually we feel alone, yes. We're not alone - NONE of us. God is always with us - Matthew 28:20. And He is faithful to us - Philippians 1:6.
This is the best one: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
(in)courage each other. Always.
Two weeks ago, one of my favorite websites, (in)courage, began talking about the National Day of Encouragement. This just happens to be today! Because of their grace and generosity, I was one of the lucky ones to receive a packet of encouraging cards from DaySpring to share with others. I receive them on Friday, just in the nick of time, and started looking at all of them. I had several people in mind who needed encouraging, and this packet nailed all their needs. So here's what I did this morning:
There was a card about having a bad day; or a bad week; or a bad YEAR - this one went to our church's Worship Minister, who is going through some really trying personal stuff right now (like all year he's been going through it!) Card: perfect!
There was a card about someone having the courage to speak, show, and live the Scripture - this one went to our Pastor, who has been preaching through Revelation since February. Card: perfect!
There was a card about meeting for coffee and sharing your lives (it's on the (in)courage site today) - this one went to a church friend who has BEEN a friend to me. Card: perfect!
There was a card about friendship - along with a loaf of fresh-baked wheat bread, this one went to a newer friend at church who has been befriending me, and encouraging ME. Card: perfect (and the bread didn't suck, either)!
There were other cards which were generically encouraging; those went to our Youth Minister, our Children's Director, and our Preschool Director.
There was one more card, and it just stood out from the rest; it speaks of having a big yellow umbrella to walk through the rain with someone to shield them. Inside the card, it says (in so many words) "but I don't have a big yellow umbrella, so I'll just walk through the rain with you." Oh, man. THIS one went to a younger lady at church whose family is having a TIME with her rebellious stepson. This one card went way beyond perfect - it could not have been more encouraging.
So let me encourage you on this National Day: life's hard, yes. Sometimes it sucks, yes. Usually we feel alone, yes. We're not alone - NONE of us. God is always with us - Matthew 28:20. And He is faithful to us - Philippians 1:6.
This is the best one: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
(in)courage each other. Always.
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