Words of Encouragement
Over the weekend, I was cleaning out a closet, trying to declutter it and make space to store something different. I had a shelf full of boxes of notecards and stationery, and I thought I might be able to store them more efficiently so they would take up less space. I picked up some stackable boxes and got to work.
I found all kinds of treasures as I was sorting through the boxes. I found leftover invitations to our wedding, birth announcements, party invitations, Christmas cards, and graduation announcements - a glimpse into our lives these past 24 years.
In one box, I found six cards given to me 21 years ago when I left my job to become a full-time mom. I knew they were in there because I had saved them when I received them, but I hadn’t pulled them out to look at in years!
I read through each of them and was so moved by the words my co-workers and friends wrote to me as I was about to embark on a new adventure.
I had only worked with this team for a couple of years. I had come to this job at the university after the job I had been promised at my church fell through. I was newly out of college and newly married at the time, and this team was instrumental in my formation.
I learned countless things about myself while working at that job, things that I still consider key to shifting the trajectory of how I would live life and serve in ministry then and in the future.
As I re-read those cards, I was astonished. They were this lovely reminder of the work that I did during a snapshot in time. They spoke words of encouragement and thanks, but they also declared things about me that God has been bringing back to my mind and body in the past three years.
Reading through these cards made me want to read other cards I have kept - cards from my children, kids and parents I’ve pastored, students I’ve taught, and from when I stepped away from children’s ministry and teaching in 2021.
Two things stood out to me this weekend as I took this trip down memory lane.
First, I am so glad I have all of these cards to look back at from various seasons of my adult life thus far. Some days, I wonder if the work that I have done has mattered. Most of the time, I know that it has, but sometimes I need these tangible reminders to show me a more complete picture.
Secondly, I want to be more intentional about encouraging others when I notice their gifts and strengths, even if they might not be able to identify them yet. It can be so hopeful when we name the ways that we see a person partnering with God to shine light into all of the spaces their day takes them.
Do you have words that you look back at that have been life-giving to you? Words that point you to Jesus and remind you of who you are? Words that you want to hold onto because they are full of hope? Do you share these kinds of words with others?
~ Melissa