Words of Encouragement

On the surface, a card is just a piece of paper with some pretty words and maybe a picture. But to the one who receives it, the words have such power to lift, to heal, to inspire. It is so simple to send, and the rewards far outweigh the cost.

Funny thing, though, do you know who also gets a blessing from a card? The one who wrote it. We have all heard the truism, "It is more blessed to give than to receive," and I have to say that my experience with encouragement echoes this.

A few days ago I received a package of encouragement cards as a free gift, with the sole requirement being that I give away at least one by today and share about it.

This week has been FULL of changes in the weather,

working on my fall garden...
choosing new paint colors for my house...
and the beginning of fall commitments like MOPS and Small Groups...

Not to mention the big time and emotion suckers of

sick kids,
writing deadlines,
and unresolved conflict.

And I have had no idea how I was going to have time to send a card.

Actually, all I have had time to do is collect addresses and begin writing.

I am so excited because I know exactly which five cards to send to the first five people on my list, and I eagerly look forward to praying over those tonight as I write.

But first...

I did write one.

It is sort of a letter of encouragement. More like a dressed-up letter of apology to some dear friends, with whom I recently shared some harsh words. But the sentiment is still true.

I shared a card that says:

You've been on my mind
in my prayers
and close to my heart,
and that's where you'll stay.

This relationship, which I never thought would be in any doubt, has suffered some serious cracks. But after weeks of agonizing over it, I finally gave up on the "who's right, who's wrong" blame game, just shared what I could fit on a card.

I hope it brings some restoration, because I am tired of having an important part of my life out of whack. It's draining.

So I share my profound thanks with Dayspring Cards, for sponsoring this challenge, and with in(courage), who gave me a deadline. When I looked into my heart, I knew this had to be God's way of offering me a chance to come back.

I don't know yet how my card or my words will be received. But the important work, the work in my heart, has already been done. And in that lies the real blessing of this particular encouragement card. God has used it to encourage me that there is always a way back to restored relationship.

This post came about because of my recent visits to (in)courage, where I have found a community of women sharing encouraging words with me day after day. "I thank my God on every remembrance" of them (Philippians 1:3).