Sometimes waking to sweet and kind words, sets the pace for the whole day.
And I awake to the chime of a 6:04 am text:
“I am praying for you to have a wonderful day! Enjoy the rain!!”
And my heart smiles as I sink back into my pillow, cherishing the quiet morning minutes of stillness and reflection.
And sometimes the kindness of a friend overwhelms.
The rain poured down and the streets were wet, as I drove to the grocery store and back. And on my way home, with Sandi-Patty-hymns serenely playing, my thoughts raced with all I still had to accomplish in this day.
The windshield intersected the raindrops, and the wipers cleared their remnants away, in a steady and rhythmic strumming sound. And amidst their mesmerizing cadence, my thoughts continued on. With self-doubts escalating and deep-questioning fears rising–even when a heart is filled with overwhelmed-ness …
Sometimes the kindness of a friend overwhelms.
I bolted out the car door in the drizzling rain to get the mail, and little did I know, that the cold metal mailbox held a priceless gift–a treasure.
A treasure that’s rare amidst these cyber-heavy and social-media-ridden days–to receive the gift of hand-written words on a page … words scrolled down with the intent of a heart, and the effort of a human hand.
And my eyes almost couldn’t believe what I held. A notecard, hand-addressed to me! And I rushed to open it, quickly tearing the envelope with my eagerness and excitement.
This timely word had dropped out of nowhere, and in the seat of my car
with the rain pattering down, her words poured down like rain on my parched and cracked soul … soaking in deep. And they brought the rain of my flowing tears, straight.on.down.
This, such a wet day, in so many wonderful ways–this refreshing wetness, all of it wonderfully pouring down.
And I am moved by the kindness and overwhelmed by the thoughts, and like the morning text had hoped for me…I AM enjoying the rain.
I unloaded the groceries and put them away, and my phone suddenly chimed with another random text:
“Hi jacque have a wonderful day XOXO”
And I sat, and I paused, and my heart was SO saturated from the goodness of it all.
And this wet day is His gift to me, straight from His heart–from my ABBA to me.
For a long time, He alone has known what we’ve talked about in our times together. How I’ve been floundering … wondering … where is my place? Do I really have friends? Does what I say, or do, really matter? And He had sent His nourishing and reviving rained-down water to me this day, through the faithfulness and kindness of these friends who know His heart well. They responded to His promptings, becoming His hands and feet to me, and bringing me the affirming whispered message of His Father heart…
You, my child are loved, And you matter, And I have great things in store for you.
And the lovingkindness of our God overwhelms.
And I stand amazed at how he orchestrates the affirmations. I revel in how very much He cares about the little things of our hearts. And I’m in awe how He uses those who are His, to be His hands and feet.
The lovingkindness of our God and of sweet friends, has rained on me today–lovingkindness POURED down, and I am overwhelmed and saturated by its goodness.
May you and I listen in close, to the whispers of His promptings, so that we may be used as His rain of lovingkindness upon one another, is my prayer.
How have you been overwhelmed with the kindness of a friend?
By Jacque Watkins, Mercy Found Me
Leave a Comment
Oh what a beautiful and encouraging post. God really does care about the little details of our lives. And the way He brings us those blessings always amazes me. Yes, you are loved. He cares for you!
Yes…the details, and how He really does care!…and I’m standing with you, amazed at His GREAT love!
[…] at (in)courage Today!! Posted on February 10, 2012 by Jacque I’m guest posting over at (in)courage today and I can’t be more […]
“You, my child are loved,
And you matter,
And I have great things in store for you.”
What a beautiful reminder from Him…to your heart and through your friends.
I love how faithful He is…in EVERY SINGLE DETAIL.
It *was* so beautiful. And our God is just like that, faithfully caring about every single detail! What an intimate God He is!
What an uplifting post Jacque. Yes, God cares even at the most littlest things in our daily life, little thing that most of the time we took for granted 🙂 Like what Barbie said, how He brought or remind us about those blessings…..are a blessings themselves….
All good things,
Charina
I’m so glad you were lifted by the reminder of His care! I was too!
Blessed today by little graces sent my way, too. Thanks so much for sharing!
What a blessing the little graces are…
i love seeing what he is doing in people’s lives. i am reminded that he is carrying out his good, pleasing and perfect will for every. person.
Oh how you are so right! For every. single. person!
I am so happy to see you here today, friend!
And you too, friend!
oh how I long to live tuned to His heart…to be able to do just small simple acts that shows another how much He love them…
great post…spurs me on…
And isn’t that what sisterhood is all about? To spur one another on toward love and good deeds…May your day be blessed!
I am going home and writing a couple of letters today. Thank you!
Yay! You are so welcome 🙂 I get so very excited to receive a handwritten note. It is such a loving gesture and I’m sure your friends will be blessed by you!
Yes. God is good. You write with such poetic beauty what my heart feels. Let us pass it on, this kindness we have been blessed with.
Thank you for sharing.
Ah yes…to pass on the kindness we have been blessed with. May it be so for each of us!
Love this! AND love how God revealed His love for you!
Yes, I’m so thankful for how He loves us through the kindness of those who know Him too. It was just exactly what I needed, and He knew!
I love the hand-written love too, but, yes, I’ll take it in texts and tweets, too! I love how all these things came at just the right minute, and am so glad it served as a reaffirmation of His sweet love, and those friendships unfolding. So good to hear your heart here today, Jacque.
Thank you, Annie!
Jacque,
What an uplifting and inspiring post. This inspires me, as well as God’s nudges, to write people little caring notes. You never know how much it can brighten someone’s day just to know someone cares about them and their problems!
Thanks for the post!
You are so welcome! And it is so true, never underestimate the power we have to be the conduit of hope to someone else–through little gestures of kindness, which God can orchestrate for their heart’s encouragement at just the right moments. May you find much joy in writing your sweet notes!
I had a friend do that for me last fall as I sat by my dad’s bedside after we pulled him off life support. It took 16 days for him to go, and they were the longest 16 days of my life. But my sweet friend sent me a text every single day encouraging me and praying for me. I can’t even begin to say how much that helped during that dark time. Now, when I feel that prompting from God – I act on it. You never know that your words will come just at the right time.
You are so right…we never know when our words will come at just the right time, and make such a big difference to a friend. I’m with you, let’s act on the promptings and be used by Him to become the blessing!
my husband died 2 l/2 years ago. i don’t drive. so for the past 2 1/2 years one of my friends has picked me up and taken me shopping. i told her if she ever gets tired of this to let me know. We both help each other in this life. thank you Vicky for all that you do for me.
Oh Sarita, what a gift! And Vicky, what a special, special friend you are!
I have a friend who sends me cards from time to time, filled with scripture and encouragement. For no reason at all other than just to bring me joy. It’s such a blessing…a gift from God!
I just love that! “For no reason at all…” Just beautiful!!
I love this post!
Just a little encouragement is usually all it takes to pick me back up again, a text message or Post-It note is a treasure.
Reminds me that I must write more words of encouragement to my dear ones, too.
Text, notes, even post-its…I agree, all treasures! Here’s to some note writing!!
What a wonderful, wonderful reminder of God being everywhere if we only look. And I love handwritten notes, too!
You are so right! Handwritten notes are so very special!
[…] #1254 The blessing of guest-posting over at (in)courage […]
I have been overwhelmed by love and friendship – people, time and time again, and it is in such moments that I am reminded, I Am Rich!
It is in these times that I have most recognized God’s love.