I'm kind of a stickler for honesty. You know, if I pick up a Hallmark card, and there is any part of the dialogue that I don't feel with my whole heart I can't buy it.
It takes me a while to buy cards.
Anyway, I sent out an e-card to some of my dear friends this morning. I also sent one to the women that work at my church to thank them. It's important to take the time to say thank-you, and really in this age of postage-free, beautiful, convenient e-cards who has an excuse?
In the personalization section, I added Phillipians 1:3-5, "I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now."
That does express how I feel about them, but I'm afraid that it didn't completely express the truth. Do I pray for my friends? Absolutely. Do I actually thank God and pray for them with joy every time I remember them? Not really. I do pray for some friends every time I remember them. For Monica, as she is locked in a battle with cancer, for others that I know are sick or struggling. I remember these requests every time I think of them. But giving thanks to God with joy?
When I think of things that I'm thankful for, my friends are right near the top of my list, but today this verse challenged me to consistently express that thankfulness to God. Every time he brings a friend to my remembrance. Because good friends are a gift, and God is the giver of all good gifts.
My stickers still remind me of my friends' needs, and I pray for them often, but now they will also be a reminder to just pause and give thanks with joy for having that friend. And when you leave a comment or I visit your blogs, I want to remember to give thanks with joy for you, too, bloggy friends.
5 comments:
I so appreciated your ecard this morning. It reminded me that this day is FULL of reasons to rejoice! You are such an encouragement and I thank God for you today too.
Have a lovely weekend with your family.
Jennifer
Gratitude is so important-and lacking in my life sometimes. Thanks for the reminder!
The stickers are such a marvelous idea! I can be a wee bit of an airhead, so this type of graphic reminder would be such a help!
My dear, you truly are a blessing:-)
This is so sweet, Alicia! I appreciate the card you sent and consider you a dear friend,too...now of we could meet in real life sometime....
Good post, Lee. Thank you so much for the ecard - I had to go back to work last week and it was a very rough time having to leave Adelyn. It's good to know that people are praying for you even if they might not know your exact need. Oh and I like the sticker idea and need to do it!
Hey, can you please email me some of the pics you took of Adelyn & I when you visited??
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