Card Ministry, Anyone?
Two weeks ago I was driving through my neighborhood, en route to my friend Bonnie's house. Coming up the hill as I went down was another friend, Donna, with her 3 year old son, Nathaniel, in their SUV. We stopped and chatted long enough for her to say, "I was rereading old cards from when Nathaniel was in the hospital, and yours was among them. It meant so much to me. Thank you for taking the time to write it."
Another friend, Ruth, once told me, "Zo, I've saved every card you've written me. Except one. That's because I think it was in a stack of mail on the counter and my cat must've swooshed it into the trash."
My husband, who is NOT a saver of sentimental things, makes an exception: notes and cards from me and the kids. Early in our marriage I was fairly consistent about hiding Post-it notes in his brief case under his lunch. Just to say, "I love you. Praying for you today." (I should return to that practice and see if I notice a lift in his spirits.) I've come across cards that I sent him on men's retreats, business trips, performance evaluation days, or given for special occasions.
All that not to brag on myself, but to remind myself --and maybe you--of how meaningful the gift of a card can be. It really doesn't take me longer to write a card (if I have one handy) than to shoot an email. My kids know that when they are flipping through the mail and I ask, "Anything good?" I don't mean a rebate check. (Although it ranks a close second!) I mean, "Anything personal?"
Some of the best cards I've received have been when I have been flat on my back, either physically, emotionally, or both. My friend, Therese, sent me a card of encouragement when I was battling the blues a few years ago. I put it in my kitchen window sill and read it every day till the depression lifted. Another friend, Sandy, who is also a heroine to me because she tenderly mothers a 29-year-old severely autistic son, sent a thanks-for-dinner card and said that she and her husband were really refreshed from the fellowship. My dear friend, Barb, lives in Kansas and we rarely see each other, but she never forgets my birthday or Mother's Day, and reminds me of her love for me as a friend on Valentine's Day. It's mutual. We don't take each other for granted.
My husband has often said I should send out more cards. My main excuses for not following through have been:
1) selfishness/procrastination ("I'm too busy," "I'd rather get something done," "Maybe tomorrow")
2) unpreparedness ( lack of "encouragement" cards or stamps)
3) unbelief ("it won't matter that much if I don't send her one; I'm sure she's getting them from other people")
Can anyone identify? If so, and if you would like to join me in a card ministry, please leave a comment. I used to buy cards from Integrity; they are artistic, scripture-based, have lots of blank space for your own message, are printed on high quality card stock, come in a variety pack, are reasonably priced, and you get to choose the frequency of delivery to your home (something like 8-, 10-, or 12-week increments).
I am ready to reorder. As for my procrastinating, today's sermon prompted me spefically in this area: "Encourage one another while it is called Today." I can think of at least four people right now who would feel God's presence through a card this week. I bet you can, too.
Another friend, Ruth, once told me, "Zo, I've saved every card you've written me. Except one. That's because I think it was in a stack of mail on the counter and my cat must've swooshed it into the trash."
My husband, who is NOT a saver of sentimental things, makes an exception: notes and cards from me and the kids. Early in our marriage I was fairly consistent about hiding Post-it notes in his brief case under his lunch. Just to say, "I love you. Praying for you today." (I should return to that practice and see if I notice a lift in his spirits.) I've come across cards that I sent him on men's retreats, business trips, performance evaluation days, or given for special occasions.
All that not to brag on myself, but to remind myself --and maybe you--of how meaningful the gift of a card can be. It really doesn't take me longer to write a card (if I have one handy) than to shoot an email. My kids know that when they are flipping through the mail and I ask, "Anything good?" I don't mean a rebate check. (Although it ranks a close second!) I mean, "Anything personal?"
Some of the best cards I've received have been when I have been flat on my back, either physically, emotionally, or both. My friend, Therese, sent me a card of encouragement when I was battling the blues a few years ago. I put it in my kitchen window sill and read it every day till the depression lifted. Another friend, Sandy, who is also a heroine to me because she tenderly mothers a 29-year-old severely autistic son, sent a thanks-for-dinner card and said that she and her husband were really refreshed from the fellowship. My dear friend, Barb, lives in Kansas and we rarely see each other, but she never forgets my birthday or Mother's Day, and reminds me of her love for me as a friend on Valentine's Day. It's mutual. We don't take each other for granted.
My husband has often said I should send out more cards. My main excuses for not following through have been:
1) selfishness/procrastination ("I'm too busy," "I'd rather get something done," "Maybe tomorrow")
2) unpreparedness ( lack of "encouragement" cards or stamps)
3) unbelief ("it won't matter that much if I don't send her one; I'm sure she's getting them from other people")
Can anyone identify? If so, and if you would like to join me in a card ministry, please leave a comment. I used to buy cards from Integrity; they are artistic, scripture-based, have lots of blank space for your own message, are printed on high quality card stock, come in a variety pack, are reasonably priced, and you get to choose the frequency of delivery to your home (something like 8-, 10-, or 12-week increments).
I am ready to reorder. As for my procrastinating, today's sermon prompted me spefically in this area: "Encourage one another while it is called Today." I can think of at least four people right now who would feel God's presence through a card this week. I bet you can, too.
posted by Zoanna at
9:30 PM
3 Comments:
Great idea! I believe your gift in writing is partly for the purpose of encouraging via cards. I've been blessed by yours in the past (in particular after my home management seminar that nearly no one but family and you attended...what a blessing to have you write to me after). I also want to be more intentional in writing cards. I will buy a box next time I'm out. Thanks for the reminder.
Thanks, Laurie-
I didn't remember writing to you about that, but I remember some of the great tips.
I'm a little slow on the uptake (as in 5 years or so) but I finally used one of them--the stackable wire shelves! A small one that separates my big plates from the salad bowls in the kitchen, plus a big one that stands on a high shelf in my bedroom closet. Both make a difference in easy retrieval.
I also remember a recent tip you gave about storing matching linenes together by putting sheets and extra pillowcase inside the second pillowcase. How do you make it lie so flat and neat, though? I packed linens like that for vacation last year. What a great idea--just toss each kid a full pillowcase and send them to make their own condo bed!
I have been more intentional in the past about sending cards to people. Usually, during devotions, if I read a verse that prompted me to think of someone, I'd try to send them a card of encouragement with that scripture on it. It's been a while though. I'm reminded of what a blessing this can be to someone though! I'll start doing this more!
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