Imagine going to your mailbox on a bright, chilly, winter day and as you pull out the impersonal ads and the dreaded bills, among the mess, you find (gasp!) a real, live, hand-addressed note! As rare as a unicorn! To YOU!
One of my favorite verses is Zechariah 4:10 that tells us not to despise the day of small things. A note is a “small thing” that can have a huge impact.
What if whenever you notice anything positive you were to write a note of affirmation to the person who comes to mind? Many times when I’ve done this, the recipient of a note has remarked on the perfect timing of its arrival. That’s God at work through a “small thing”.
John and I both have a drawer where we save special notes that have been meaningful and encouraging to us. As I think about them, there are several characteristics they have in common.
- They are unexpected. They don’t come as an obligatory “thank you” note after you’ve given a gift or hosted a meal. They come as a delightful surprise when we least expect it.
2. They are specific. They don’t contain general niceness, but often include personal examples.
3. They require attention, intention, and forethought. Encouragers see the Imago Dei in others and call it out.
Writing notes is a joy, but it is also a habit that has been cultivated over time. It starts with learning to pay attention to the gifts and contributions of those around us.
“Way to go!” notes are fun, but sometimes the Lord will bring to mind someone I need to write an apology to.
Other times, it’s a discipline of grace.
Today someone came to mind who I really did not want to write. It was a person who has been extremely critical and disapproving of decisions John has made, but that doesn’t diminish the spiritual gifts and contributions this person has made to the kingdom. I said “Really, Lord?” but then I thought of Col. 4:6 “Let your conversation be always full of grace…” In spite of the pain, I could sincerely write a note of affirmation.
Will you join me as a faith community and do as Paul commanded us: “…encourage one another and build each other up…” (1 Thes. 5:11)? Notes are a small way to do that.
Yes yes yes. I want to get some stamps and a pack of notecards and keep them with me to do this “as someone comes to mind” note writing. Thanks for the encouragement.
🙂 As long as you have good pens, right?? 🙂 I love investing in tons of cute cards as a “ministry expense”! My favorites are from https://kris10screations.com