Highly Favored

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I write and edit my church’s newsletter. Sometimes I feel like no one cares about it or reads it since sometimes I’ll find them left on the pews or even worse, on the floor. Despite these often discouraging responses, I press forward and consistently publish one newsletter every two months or so with the help of a few other writers.

I press forward because I’m not just writing for my church, but for God’s purposes; it’s a ministry that God has placed in my heart. If my writing helps just one person get closer to God, it’s worth the sacrifice of my time and resources.

At times, it’s as if I couldn’t stop writing if I wanted to – it’s a desire that has always been with me. So even when I don’t feel like cranking out yet another newsletter, there’s a tug from within that propels me along.

Then out of the blue, when I least expect that anyone has read a single word – someone goes out of their way to approach me to tell me that something in the newsletter has touched them. One member told me that she and several people she passed the newsletter on to were touched by a poem one of the youth members wrote. Another thanked me for complimenting her delicious BBQ sauce during our annual picnic. And yet another – and probably the most encouraging response ever, came when the wife of one of our deacons approached me and told me that she was inspired by my “Christmas Everday Idea,” which called for the purchasing of toiletries to donate to a shelter.

She not only read my article, but actually went out and purchased those items and gave them to a needy family. She was so excited because the grateful and ecstatic response from the children she’d helped had surprised her.  She hadn’t given them the typical gifts, yet they responded with sheer enthusiasm.  She said that she’d never in her life seen any children so happy to receive toothpaste and new underwear. They were so happy because they’d already received some nice gifts. One boy had received some expensive tennis shoes, but was embarrassed by the ragged socks he had – so needless to say, when he received a fresh pack of socks, it was the finishing touch he’d been waiting for.

Sometimes giving people the things they need is the best gift. I got what I needed from this deacon’s wife as well – the encouragement to continue because I never know who’s reading – I never know who I’ll touch.  This time because of something I wrote, I inspired someone to do something special for others. With one article I was able to indirectly touch a less fortunate family and that is certainly, without a doubt worth every bit of the time and effort I’ve put into my writing.

I needed that affirmation so much. I praise God for the opportunity to write for others and for the chance to see someone else make a difference because of it.

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