Light & Shadow

So many things I want to say today!

First: Happy Father’s day! I have been so blessed with both an amazing dad and husband. I know it’s not everyone’s story, but when a dad does it right it blesses his family for generations. I’m so thankful for these two men and my grandad’s before them. Know that I’m praying for you today if you don’t have men like this in your story.

Second: To everyone who emailed their prayers to me this week. Thank you. It is an honor and privilege to get to pray along with you. Keep them coming!

Third: Let’s get down to business.

Life is starting to rush back in full force after all this covid shut down, even though our state is still far from “fully” open. Church is meeting, in smaller numbers, more often. My job is picking back up in hours.  The kids are finished with formal school work for the year which somehow makes life seem more chaotic as well. I might be a “little” attached to my routines and they have definitely been hard to keep lately! 

On top of all that, maybe you’ve noticed the world seems to be going even crazier than covid lately. The shadow of the last few months seems to be stretching right into my very brain. I keep praying Psalm 139:23-24.

Search me, God, and know my heart
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.

All of that to say, I feel like I have really been locked up in my own thoughts, trapped in the dome of my own skull this week. Intentionally praying for others has been a ray of light in those shadows, but I need to keep opening up my brain cave to the people around me and let the sunshine in. 

I know people are a varying stages of social comfort right now and when I originally planned this post it didn’t seem likely that blessing people in person was going to be an option due to our state’s regulations, so my plan for this week is appropriately distanced notes of encouragement. 

I know I could us one, couldn’t you?

To take it a step further, I want to be intentional about who I’m writing notes to.

• I think we all have a friend or two who have especially struggled through this quarantine or the social strife happening now. – write them a note, reminding them of God’s love for them and your love too.

• I think we all have a neighbor of some sort or another. Now is a great time to reach out. Though it might feel weird, I believe people are going to be so much more receptive to friendly gestures after being all cooped up – write them a note and maybe invite them over for a picnic. (with appropriate spacing, of course)

• I think we all have a leader at church or at work who has been bearing the heavy burden of navigating not only themselves but the people they lead through the uncharted territory of these times! – write them a note and let them know you have their back. So many leaders feel like they can win right now, receiving criticism for saying too much and not saying enough, all for the same speech. Leaders are surprisingly overlooked in the encouragement department. We can change that!

Are you with me?

Just thinking all that through already eases my own nerves just because I’m less focused on my own anxieties. I hope it helps you too.

So….

Right now…

Get out a card and right that first note. The awesome thing about blessing others is that our spirit is usually blessed in the process.

If you struggle knowing the right words to put into a note I found a very helpful outline in Elizabeth Georges book A Woman after God’s Own Heart. Her outline goes like this…

Sentence 1 – something along the lines of I miss you, I appreciate you or I’m thinking of you. 

Sentence 2 – Lets them know why I think they are special (And for our circumstances I would add something positive I’ve noticed or an interest in knowing them better)

Sentence 3 – says I’m praying for you and include the verses I’m praying. (if “praying for you” seems uncomfortable to a neighbor or leader you aren’t close with, I’d consider putting it anyway. You might be surprised at the encouragement that comes from knowing it’s not just humans that care, but that God himself has been asked to work on your behalf.)

And then…

Get a friend or your kids in on the action! My kids don’t alway love writing notes, but they do enjoy drawing pictures they know will be seen by others. I’m even planning on wrangling Gabe in on the action. 

This week…

Keep praying for your people from last week. Consider adding the people you are writing notes to, to your prayer list. And like last week I’d love for you to email me any prayer requests, questions or stories you have. 

Remember God loves our friends and neighbors and leaders, as much as He loves us, as much as He love Jesus.

Who knows a note from you could be the ray of light someone needs to breakthrough the shadows of chaos this week.