“Encourage each other every day while you have the opportunity. If you do this, none of you will be deceived by sin and become stubborn.”

Hebrews 3:13

A few years ago a friend of mine received a large check for his charity.  He was overwhelmed.  He had never received such a large check.  He sat down right then and wrote a generous thank you note by hand.  A month later, just before New Years, he received a letter in the mail. 

“A month ago my wife and I sent out three large checks to charities we felt were doing a good work.  We immediately received your note with not only a nice update, but also a warm thank you.  We have yet to hear from the other charities.  You were so kind to write us back, we are sending you another check.”  The check was for $10,000!

A friend of mine was out to eat with his wife.  He looked over and saw a large table of kids.  The group clearly was out on a prom.  The guys appeared nervous, and the conversation looked awkward.  My friend happens to be a very generous man, and he followed his heart on this night.  He called the waiter over and said I would like to pick up that table’s tab. 

It took one of those kid’s dad a month to track down who did that generous gesture.  He wanted to share with him that he had warned the kids about the “big city” (they were from a small town on the outskirts of town) and how mean, harsh, and rude people were.  He confessed that this generous deposit really made a difference in his life and in his kids lives.

My reason for writing this today is that yesterday I received a gift in the mail.  It was a really nice gift.  It’s a humidor.  (No comments please.) My friend Ryan send a note with it that said, “Thank you for believing in me and helping me this summer with my messages.”  He also listened over the years and knew that I had no humidor.  As I opened this gift up it made me smile – he blessed me a great deal.

Three months after moving to San Diego we decided to get a new stove top.  Before this I had always met the garbage man with some form of a treat.  (And our boys loved this!  Actually fought for who would get to deliver!) I usually gave him a bottle of water, a granola bar, or even some chocolate.  I will never forget the morning that my neighbor saw me with my old stove top out front – “You know the garbage man will never take that, right?”  I said, “Well, I think he will.”

As the garbage man pulled away with my stove top my neighbor came across the street in amazement – “How did you do that?”  I said, “It’s simple.  I have always acknowledged him, thanked him, and many times given him a little blessing and encouragement.”

Today, you can make a difference.  It’s really not that difficult.  Here is a list of what “generous deposits” can look like:

• A note or a thank you card
• A phone message
• A helping hand
• A meal to someone who is “under the weather”
• A financial gift of any type
• A small present or token of appreciation
• Flowers
• Cookies, candy, or a bottle of wine
• Noticing someone’s life and acknowledging them
• A kind and encouraging word
• A pat on the back
• A compliment

The bible says to encourage one another (leave a generous deposit) every day . . . EVERY DAY.  Here is to making a difference today!

Bless you,

Eric

 

PS – Was reminded of this story today – if you have extra time, it’s worth the read!

 

http://www.snopes.com/glurge/allgood.asp