Dear Friends,
Yesterday I had breakfast with a friend in our church. While talking
about his job, he remarked how difficult it was for him to work where he did.
His comment caught my attention. He said, “I have worked there 17 years and I
don’t ever recall a time when my boss ever spoke one encouraging word to me.”
I couldn’t imagine how my fried survived working there for 17
years without ever hearing one word of encouragement.
There are few gifts that one can give that are more valuable than
encouragement. It is so easy to give. It doesn’t take much time or effort. It
can be offered in just a few short words-written or spoken- and its can be life
changing. A kind word or an encouraging note is all it takes to lift
another up. And yet, in spite of its ease of giving, it seems that so many are
unwilling to give a gift that is so life changing.
I think back to a time when I was pastoring in western
Pennsylvania. I had been there four years, and I was staring burnout in the
eye. It had been a wonderful church, and I had every reason to be thankful that
the Lord had placed me there, but I was tired, discouraged, and feeling like I
had not accomplished all that I had set out to do. I found myself wondering if
it might be time to look for a new challenge in another church.
I guess I wasn't very good about hiding my feelings, for somehow
word got out to the congregation of how I was feeling. I remember it well, for
it was shortly before Valentine's Day when I started receiving them in the
mail. They were love letters from the congregation. Someone had orchestrated a
love letter campaign, and for the next couple of weeks my mailbox was full of
letters of encouragement written by members of our congregation. They
were brimming full of gratitude and appreciation. They were dressed up as
Valentine's, and they screamed out, “We love you.” Even as I share this, tears
well up as I remember those special people who helped save my ministry. To this
day those ‘Valentines’ are as some of the choicest deposits in my bank of
memories.
It has been said that encouragement is oxygen to the soul.
We can’t live very long without it. It is the quality that provides the
burst of energy needed to finish the race when thoughts of quitting echo in our
ears, and the finish line seems so distant.
I'm sure that the apostle Paul knew how valuable encouragement
was. Maybe that is why he wrote,” Therefore encourage one another and build
each other up, just as in fact you are doing” (1 Thess. 5:11) or again to the
Ephesians when he writes, “Don't let any unwholesome talk come out of your
mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their
needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (Ephesians 5: 29).
I know we are a few days removed from Valentine's Day, but I would
ask you if there might still be a few Valentine love letters you might wish to
send someone who needs a little spark of encouragement. Those letters, while
costing so little, may be the very gift that brings eternal value to those who
receive them.
Yours in faith and friendship,
Tom
No comments:
Post a Comment