Operation Encouragement

I used to think, way back when, that I would be involved so much in community services, volunteer work, and ministry if I ever had a chance to be a stay at home mom.  After all, I’d have all that time.

Then I figured that I’d do all that stuff when we moved closer to family, because I’d have all that help.

Then I realized that this mom job is way bigger, heavier, and deeper than I could have ever imagined.  My friends, I get weary.  Somedays I feel trapped.  Then God brings someone into my life who speaks life into my soul.  They encourage me on, and remind me how important this job he gave me is.

Encouragement is everything.  It’s an act of service that has rippling effects.  This walking by faith thing? It’s more of a community thing then we recognize.  God calls us…collectively.  Not that it’s an all or nothing thing, but he calls us to fellowship along with everything else.

I was reading the other day some letters written by the Apostle Paul.  Paul may be one of the most prolific writers in the Bible.  The man just wouldn’t stop writing letters.  He wrote letters to churches popping up all over the world.  Through his letters he blessed people, he held people accountable, and most of all, he pointed them to God’s grace.  He reminded them of grace and peace and hope.

He did most of this in chains.  He made one of the most profound impacts on our world…through the ministry of encouragement from the inside of a cell.

Ok, so I’m not comparing being a mom to being in prison (well, some days…) but I feel like of all the ages in human kind, when scientific studies are ruling how to “mother best” and mommy wars dominate the internet, I feel like people are attacking each other from every angle.  I think that Paul was passionate about encouragement.

So I have a personal goal this summer.  It’s a goal for fellowship and encouragement.  It’s a goal that is achievable from the inside of my cell house.

I’m committing to write 50 letters of encouragement/friendship this summer… to you.  

Well, 50 of you.

I want to write to 50 readers, a handwritten, individual letter of encouragement and just chatting about life that gets written on real paper and arrives in a real physical mailbox.  Not an agenda, please-buy-this, letter.  Just one person encouraging/relating to another.  Actually I don’t know what I’m going to write you guys yet, but I’m excited to figure that out.

Do you want in?

This is for mothers, ladies with no kids, Christians, non-Christians, stay at home moms, working moms, etc.  It’s just for current and future friends.  There isn’t an application, and you don’t have to be the “right kind” of woman…just the kind that could use a friend every once in awhile.

Read these instructions carefully, twice:

So here’s how we are going to keep this as internet safe as I know how.  If you want a letter from me, just shoot me your address by emailing me here:

COMMENTS ARE CLOSED, NOW THAT WE’VE REACHED 50 PEOPLE.

DON’T WRITE YOUR ADDRESS IN THE COMMENTS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST.  ONLY USE THE ABOVE CONTACT FORM SO THE WHOLE INTERNET DOESN’T SEE IT.  That would be silly. If I see someone accidentally used the comment section at the bottom of this post, I’ll delete it as soon as I see it (but of course still add them to the list if there’s room).

Also don’t put in someone else’s name and address.  It’s not good manners to hand out other people’s address.  Plus it’s kinda creepy.  Honor code, people.  I believe it still exists.  Maybe you could type with your address, one thing that makes you weary at the stage you are in right now.  That way I could pray about if first, that God would put on my heart the words you need to hear for encouragement.  I will write you a letter, and then discard your address.  I won’t even store it or sell it or anything.  So you have to trust me about that part.  If you don’t trust me, I totally understand.  You don’t know me from Adam.  I mean, some of you know me, but a lot of you don’t.

I just love getting mail.  I love when someone offers me a hand of friendship.  I love that words hold power, and when people use that to build others up.

Here’s what I’d like in exchange: commit to writing 5 people a real-life paper letter.  Think of people in your life who could really use a letter of encouragement.  Give words of hope.  Give words of support.  There is no accountability for this.  In fact, if you think that is too much of a commitment for you, or if you are one of those “I never finish those types of things” people, I totally understand.  You can still sign up for a letter from me.  I just would love to see a ripple effect of encouragement.  The last thing I want is another source of guilt of something you didn’t get done.  This is a no-guilt space.

Now, I don’t want this to turn into a creepy chain mail thing, so it’s going to stay that simple.  No one will die, and no piano will fall on your head if you don’t follow through.  God will not smite you with lightening.  There are bucket loads of grace for this project.

Also, for those who send me their address AND for those who aren’t comfortable doing that, I suggest that you subscribe to this blog on the right sidebar of this post, because I’m going to start sending out a monthly newsletter, only for subscribers  (people who want it), that’s just a fun email of encouragement in the inbox.  Again, I’m the only one to see your email address.  No one else gets to have it.  I’m pretty strict about that.  Filling out the contact form above will not subscribe you to this blog/newsletter.  That’s a separate step.  I could combine it, but I’d prefer to give people a choice to opt out of one or the other.

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So I’m going to put this bolded number below, and as I get emails with people’s addresses, I’ll start putting the number of people who responded here, so when it gets up to 50, you can know to stop emailing me.  I’ll also take down the contact form.  I can’t do more.  I have little people to feed.

50  We’re closed!

Ok, I don’t know how to make that number a bigger font.  I’m still new to this whole WordPress platform.  Add that to the list of things to tinker with.

But know I’ll pray that someone else will step in and encourage you if you don’t make it in the first 50.

Because we all need it. I can’t fill every need.  I am no savior.  But I can do something, because I know the Savior, and he continues to lift me up.  I love being apart of what he is doing.  It’s exciting.  Seriously, there’s no greater thrill.  Plus I love writing letters.

(Also, I have this insecurity thing, where I worry that I just offer this friendship out there, and worry no one will sign up and I’ll just look silly.  I feel weird about putting the number up there, but I think its important for people to know when to stop filling out the form.  I’ll take the form down too, to make it clear that sign ups are full.  So feel free to share this post with anyone you think could use some encouragement too so the number doesn’t stay at like, 4.  Spreading this idea around would be a good way to encourage me.)

 

So go ahead.  Reach out.  Sign up.  It’s not geeky or desperate or anything like that.  It’s just a human connection in a wired world.  It’s okay to reach out for a friend.