Apr
21
An Opportunity to Encourage
Filed by Becky Albrecht Under Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
“Like apples of gold in settings of silver, is a word spoken at the proper time” (Proverbs 25:11, nasb).
In her book, Streams in the Desert, Mrs. Charles Coleman tells this story:
“There is a story of an old man who carried a little can of oil with him everywhere he went, and if he passed through a door that squeaked, he poured a little oil on the hinges. If a gate was hard to open, he oiled the latch. And thus he passed through life lubricating all hard places and making it easier for those who came after him.
“People called him eccentric, queer, and cranky; but the old man went steadily on refilling his can of oil when it became empty, and oiled the hard places he found.
“There are many lives that creak and grate harshly as they live day by day. Nothing goes right with them. They need lubricating with the oil of gladness, gentleness, or thoughtfulness. Have you your own can of oil with you? Be ready with your oil of helpfulness in the early morning to the one nearest you. It may lubricate the whole day for him. The oil, of good cheer to the downhearted one — Oh, how much it may mean! The word of courage to the despairing. Speak it.
“Our lives touch others but once, perhaps, on the road of life; and then, mayhap, our ways diverge, never to meet again. The oil of kindness has worn the sharp, hard edges off of many a sin-hardened life and left it soft and pliable and ready for the redeeming grace of the Saviour.
“’A word spoken pleasantly is a large spot of sunshine on a sad heart.’
(Mrs. Charles Coleman, Streams in the Desert, 1925, Dec. 8)
While we currently often find ourselves at a distance from each other, there are many ways to spread the “oil of kindness” to our brothers and sisters in Christ.
One way to spread the oil of kindness and to “speak a word at the proper time” is to reach out to others is via old-fashioned “snail mail.”
Admittedly, each of us is very busy with many pursuits in life, whether working outside the home, rearing children, coping day by day with health issues or, what I call “the stuff of life.”
Here are some thoughts about how, given our many commitments, each of us might continue to reach out to others:
1. Grocery stores sell stamps at the check-out. When you are purchasing needed groceries for your families, add “stamps” to your list. If you are unable to get to the post office, stamps can be purchased at the grocery store.
2. Beautiful cards at an affordable price are available at Dollar Tree stores (https://www.dollartree.com/). Dollar Tree sells Dayspring Christian cards. When you are there, stock up on cards of many varieties.
3. Department stores such as Kohl’s sells greeting cards. With 30% off coupons, cards may be purchased at a discount.
4. Cards can be purchased online. Here are some links. Some are Christian; some are not. As in all things, please use what you can, and disregard the rest.
• https://www.leanintree.com/home.aspx
• https://www.dayspring.com/
• https://www.christianbook.com/
• https://www.currentcatalog.com/
Each of us can purchase greeting cards and stamps, and then get out our church directory and/or address book. Whether it is someone’s birthday, someone experiencing hardships of life, or for no reason at all except to share the love of Christ, each of us can reach out to others.
A Christian speaker once challenged his audience with the following thoughts:
“Rather than saying, ‘I’m one person, what can *I* do?’, I ought to say, “I’m one person, what *can* I do?” Each of us can begin today to do one thing to reach out to a brother or sister in Christ.
