A Note of Encouragement

What do you find most often when you go to your mailbox these days? Probably the same things I find – sales flyers, bills and magazines along with a bunch of junk mail. Occasionally though while leafing through the stack, my eyes will fall on an envelope different from all the rest, a handwritten note addressed to me. My heart always skips a beat as I excitedly search the upper left hand corner to discover the identity of the sender.

 How sweet it is to know someone took the time to write a note especially to me. It’s a lost art really. With email and texting, one hardly ever receives a handwritten note anymore. What makes it even sweeter is when a note arrives to offer encouragement at times when we need it most. The words sometimes seem to be prompted by God Himself.

 I recently received such a letter in my mailbox. We’ve been going through a rough spot with the health of my son and discouragement and weariness have set in. A few days ago, I received a note from a lady I participated in a Bible Study with several months ago. The note was simple. It said I had been on her heart lately and she was praying for me during this difficult time. She shared her experience with some similar situations we have faced and offered to do anything she could to help. The words were exactly what I needed to get me through the rest of the day.

 I thought about this note for the next several days and how much it meant to me. Then I thought about how I’m trying so hard to make an impact with my writing. It became clear that sometimes the most impactful writing is not in a book or a magazine article, but in a simple note sent to someone to brighten their day.

Like a cool drink of water when you’re worn out and weary is a letter from a long-lost friend. Proverbs 25:25 (The Message)

 If you haven’t done it recently, take time to write someone a note of encouragement today.