Friday, November 3, 2017

Noteworthy Thanks

During the dark days of the United States depression a group of pastors had gathered together in a restaurant. Among them was the evangelist William Stidger.  They were talking about the detrimental effects that the depression was having in their church and community. 

A minister in the group said, "I have to preach a sermon on Thanksgiving Day. I want to say something affirmative, but what can I say at a time like this?" 

As the minister spoke, Stidger said it was like the Spirit of God spoke to him: "Why don't you give thanks to those people who have been a blessing in your life and affirm them during this terrible time?" He thought about a schoolteacher very dear to him, who had gone out of her way to put a great love of literature and verse in him. It affected all his writings and his preaching.  So he sat down and wrote to her.

It was only days until he got a reply in a feeble scrawl. "My Dear Willy" -- Stidger says at that time he was 50, and no one had called him Willy for a long time, so just the opening sentence warmed his heart.  Here's the letter:

"My Dear Willy: I can't tell you how much your note meant to me. I am in my eighties, living alone in a small room, cooking my own meals, lonely, and like the last leaf of autumn lingering behind." Listen to this sentence, will you? "You'll be interested to know that I taught in school for more than fifty years, and yours is the first note of appreciation I ever received. It came on a blue, cold morning, and it cheered me as nothing has done in many years."

 Stidger says, "I'm not sentimental, but I found myself weeping over that note." Then he thought of a kindly bishop, who had recently retired and who had recently faced the death of his wife.  He was now was all alone. This bishop had given him advice and counsel and love when he first began his ministry. So he sat down and wrote the old bishop. In two days a reply came back.

"My Dear Will: Your letter was so beautiful, so real, that as I sat reading it in my study, tears fell from my eyes, tears of gratitude. Before I realized what I was doing, I rose from my chair and I called her name to share it with her, forgetting she was gone. You'll never know how much your letter has warmed my spirit. I have been walking around in the glow of your letter all day long."


   We can never under estimate what a simple thought of kindness can do in the life of someone who has touched our lives or we care about.  In these days leading up to Thanksgiving, think of someone who has impacted your life and write them a note expressing your gratitude for the imprint their life has had on you.

   Have a Happy Thanksgiving! - RLE

THINGS YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN ….

FOR CHURCH LEADERSHIP: Create a bookmark on your device for the online LifeWay Church Resources 2017-18 catalog - http://www.lifeway.com/LifeWay-Christian-Resources/Y/c/N-1z141jlZ1z10gjr


FOR DISCIPLESHIP: The Balanced Discipleship Plan: A Catalog of Studies to Develop Disciples - http://ministry-group.s3.amazonaws.com/groupministry/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2017/05/74038_At_A_Glance_FINAL.pdf


FOR SMALL GROUP MINISTRY: Free “How to Lead a Small Group” workbook - http://www.lifeway.com/groupministry/2017/07/31/how-to-lead-a-small-group-free-workbook/?ecid=PDM57450&bid=1004181173

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY: “10 Ways to Encourage Discussion in Bible Study” - http://www.lifeway.com/womensministry/2017/10/20/ten-ways-to-encourage-discussion-in-bible-study/

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY: She Reads Truth - http://www.lifeway.com/Keyword/she+reads+truth

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY:  2018 Events calendar - http://blog.lifeway.com/womenallaccess/2017/08/08/announcing-2018-events/?ecid=PDM57450&bid=1004181173

FOR MEN’S MINISTRY: Audio CD Devotions for Men on the move - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/devotions-for-men-audio-cds-P005632528

FOR MEN’S MINISTRY: 33 the Series - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/33-The-Series?intcmp=33-the-series-erdr-314

FOR MEN’S MINISTRY: Family: Leading a Family by Kenny Luck - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/family-leading-a-family-dvd-leader-kit-P005469698

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: New resources for True Love Waits - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/True-Love-Waits?intcmp=LifewayStudents-MTX-ButtonHero-TLW-20140613

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: D’Now resources - http://www.lifeway.com/Keyword/D'Now

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: My 8: Embrace and Engage the Wonder of Evangelism by Ed Newton - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/my-8-embrace-and-engage-the-wonder-of-evangelism-leader-kit-P005737563

FOR PRETEEN MINISTRY: FLYTE, a curriculum for preteens and recommended by preteens - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/FLYTE?intcmp=LifewayKids-MTX-Image-FlytePreteen-20151001

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: 2018 Georgia Kids Ministry Summit, February 1 – 2 - https://gabaptistgroups.org/2018-kids-ministry-summit/?utm_content=buffer4adf9&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: “5 Biggest Influencers on Your Child’s Spiritual Health” by Eric Geiger - https://ericgeiger.com/2017/10/research-reveals-the-5-biggest-influencers-on-your-childs-spiritual-health/

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: ZIP for Kids, an adaptable curriculum for Wednesdays, Day Camps, retreats, anytime! - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/Zip-For-Kids?intcmp=LifewayKids-MTX-Image-ZipForKids-20151001

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: TeamKID for Kids in Discipleship, a year’s curriculum for discipling kids - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/TeamKID?intcmp=LifewayKids-MTX-Image-TeamKid-20151001

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: Kids Ministry 101 Podcasts -  buff.ly/2kPNDFV



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