At the Mailbox and Beyond

Series: Encouragement

There are many ways to encourage others--giving of gifts, giving of time, a kind word, prayers, or a hug, just to name a few. My favorite form of encouragement is written words.

It is such a thrill to walk out to the mailbox and find an envelope waiting especially for you, the kind with a handwritten name and address. The kind with a colorful, unique postage stamp--a stamp so unique that it tells you exactly who sent it before you even read the return address. I like this kind of envelope, the kind that makes you swell with joy and eagerness because it lacks the cookie cutter shape. It lacks the cold and detached plastic window that lets you peer in on your own name and address, typed and printed so neatly. It lacks the prepaid postage and flamboyantly printed, unfamiliar return address. It lacks everything that the world says is orderly and sufficient and necessary, but it is more memorable than all the flawless, generic envelopes that we expect to receive everyday.

Isn’t it funny how we get so excited about a handwritten card or letter before we’ve even opened it? Maybe it’s because there is something special about receiving someone else’s words in a form that we can keep forever. Maybe it’s because we know how much time it takes to sit down, pick up a pen, and share a piece of our hearts with someone else.

Written encouragement impacts me in a way that no other form of encouragement can. I love looking back at notes or letters that I received years ago; they still speak to my heart and remind me of my worth and value.

Have you ever been the person at the mailbox? Knowing how much a simple note of encouragement affects me (at the mailbox and beyond), I want to use that form of encouragement to give the same feelings of love and affirmation to others. Some of the greatest letters ever written were sent to Galatia, Philippi, Ephesus, Thessalonica, Colossae, and Corinth long ago. These letters were seasoned with affection, concern, and encouragement for the saints to live lives of holiness. They were sent long before our time, but we still read them. Some of us even read them everyday!

Paul and the early church are the perfect example of the ways in which written words can encourage. What if we wrote to each other in a manner similar to Paul, and frequently, at that? People would receive encouragement daily. We would be consistent in holding each other accountable. We would communicate within the body of Christ in a way that is healthy. We would be forming habits of service and selflessness. We would be affecting change in each others’ lives in a way that we can keep forever. It seems that written encouragement was one of Paul’s favorite ways to encourage. That must mean that Paul thought it was effective--I think he was right.

God,
Help us to realize the power of our words and the power of tangible encouragement. May our hearts be selfless and may we be willing to give of our time and hearts to others each day that we take a breath. Thank you for giving us examples like Paul, Peter, David, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John who remind us that written encouragement is extremely powerful. May we, always, choose to bless with our words, whether written or spoken. We love you and thank you for the ultimate encourager, your Holy Spirit. We love you with all that we are.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Erin Daugherty
Stephenville, Texas