Send The Light

One byproduct of my parents' passing was a temporary, huge increase in mail parked in my box on a daily basis. E-mail, and now FACEBOOK, has curtailed my use of stamped letters and notes to almost nothing, to my regret. Finding cards in my box brightened many days during my times of grieving. The thoughts were not profound necessarily but simply expressions of shared grief and prayers for healing. The following was an entry from October 2, 2006. I wished I practiced better what I wrote about.

It's Monday evening so that means Monday Night For The Master at our congregation. On the first business day of the week during the school year, our church eats supper together and then goes about the Lord's business jointly. We might be engaged in projects in the building or making visits. One group prays and another makes phone calls. I'm a card writer. Tonight, I penned five post cards. One was a follow-up to a visitor from yesterday's worship but the other four were to brothers and sisters of our number. Collectively, they have endured a difficult week:
one elderly brother was released from the hospital
one sister was in a car accident last Friday, reducing the number of family vehicles to just one
one teenage brother underwent shoulder surgery today to repair a football injury
one brother was robbed and beaten last week and awaits surgery at home

I hope my notes bring some measure of peace when the mailman delivers them on Wednesday. The messages weren't earth shattering, just reminders that God loves them and so so do their brothers and sisters. Increasingly, I am convinced that any encouragement can go a very long way. The realization that another cares enough to call or knock on the door or jot a few lines of comfort can revive a flagging spirit and renew a spark of hope. We can see Jesus in each other. Everyone wants a little light to lift them up. We talked in my eighth grade Bible classes today as we memorized from John chapter 1. Jesus is described as the light and the true light in these passages detailing the relationship between the Christ and John the Baptist. I asked the kids how many of them slept with night lights; a number of the girls admitted they do. I asked the size of the lights and the answer was ''small." But even a tiny light gives reassurance that we are safe. Every little child at Westbury Christian School knows, "This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine!" We use it as a children's song but it could just as easily be a grownup's hymn. We are never promised an easy path in following the Lord. Jesus prophesied in John 16 that,
"In this world you will have trouble."
Fortunately, he didn't leave it there!
"But take heart! I have overcome the world."
In between the trouble part and the overcome promise is the take heart section. That's what the card writing is about- the take heart ministry. Just picture customized paper night lights that never need to be plugged in!

Applicable quote of the day:
"Most of us, swimming against the tide of trouble the world knows nothing about, need only a bit of praise or encouragement- and we will make the goal."
Robert Collier

God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1
E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com
http://www.hawleybooks.com/