Mission: Valentine's Day Encouragement!

It is Valentine's Day. Ok, I will own it.

I almost forgot, except that the kind couple that I live with gave me a card and a heart mug and tea. To me tea = love. I felt loved.

I came to work thinking about the Peanuts Valentine's Day show with Charlie Brown and homemade valentines. I shared my ginger lemon Valentine's tea with the fellow sicklings at work. That shared the love, but I thought I needed to do more.

Then I talked to this guy who has to be the most discouraged person I know. I work with a lot of discouraged people because it is temporary work and people are looking for jobs. I wondered if he had ever gotten a valentine's card. Then God gave me the idea to write him one myself. I tore off a piece of notepad paper. I drew a big heart. I said:

S-
God wants you to know that He loves you and has a plan for your life. Don't give up! You are a kind and thoughtful person. You are wonderful and valuable!

One the front I wrote: "Happy Valentine's Day :)" and I left it on his desk when he went to the bathroom.

I knew this was the right thing, but then fear set in. 'What if he gets mad? What if I should not have written God? What if I get accused of trying to convert people at work?' Then he came back from the bathroom. He read my note. I did not sign it, but he knew it was from me. He approached my desk. He said, "I'm assuming this was from you." I nodded. Then he said with a smile amd enthusiasm, "Thanks a lot!"

Hooray! Mission encouragement accomplished!

I write this, once again, to show you that it doesn't take much to show love. I quite enjoyed my little flashback to elementary school endeavor to create a valentine. You just have to look around, get over the things in your own life that you wish were better, and make a point to speak hope into the lives of people around you who need to hear it.

Philippians 2: 1-2: Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tenderness or compassion, then make my joy complete by having the same love, being one in spirit and mind.

Let's take the love we have received from Christ and use it to encourage those around us who need to know it.