Who might need some encouragement?
by Andy Scheer
Despite the declared purpose of next Thursday, the next few days can slip into a frenzy. Advertisements shout to draw my attention to the Friday sales — and away from thankfulness.
So I’m pausing to reflect.
This past week I ran across Ephesians 2:10: “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
I thought of that as I read a thank-you from someone whose manuscript I’d critiqued. I’d taken an hour at a conference to mark her opening pages, then sat with her for twenty minutes and offered my comments. I was just doing my job.
But she’d taken my advice to heart.
Her card brightened my week. Because I’d taken significant time from my office, I found work piled higher than usual. Discouragement lurked nearby.
Then I got her note. And a friend — someone I’d not seen in ten years — telephoned. He’d be in town on a business trip. Would my wife and I like to join him for dinner? Across the table we reviewed a decade of opportunities, challenges, and God’s faithfulness.
I’m not sure what kind of week my friend is facing, but I hope it goes a little better when he gets the note I just mailed.
