ANNOUNCING
I am pleased to announce the official introduction of the greeting
card ministry the Lord has blessed me with. This has been long
awaited and excitedly anticipated. I'm excited because this has
been a clear vision for me from the Lord, roughly for the past 2
1/2 years, and has since become a strong passion of mine.
HISTORY
For as often as I could remember, my sister was the one to write
out and send cards. She was a stationary fiend. Living with her, I
realized how much of this stuff she really had. It was the address
labels, stamps, pens, the paper, stickers, rulers, pencils,
envelopes, glue, post-its, flags, whiteout, the works! Her desk was
huge enough too to harbor of her supplies! And I was jealous.
However, it was a good jealous, because I admired her for the
desire she had when she took the time to write out a card, just
because it was time. Yet she had the time because she didn’t work,
as she was very sick. However the passion was there, and toGod,
that's what touched him. She touched the hearts of people,
because of people. Not because of herself. Not to show off. She
didn’t have much to brag about, but God loved her heart of
compassion and reaching out.
It has been approximately 7 years on August 6 of this year, just 4 days after my birthday that we have been without her. However, not in heart. I still remember her ideas and the companies she'd order her cards from; American Bible Society, Guideposts, and Dayspring. To ensure her wording was straight across the inside of the card, with a pencil she drew lines with a ruler to assimilate notebook lines. She wrote out her message in pen and then would erase the lines to show her words across the card were perfect.
She was very creative and had boxes and boxes of patience when it came to her cards. She was also very territorial and possessive of her items. Sharing was never an issue but rest assured she stood over you while you used her things, and waiting till you were done. Sometimes her balance was a problem and she couldn't stand over you long enough to ensure her things were returned. So she would ask and inquire: "Debra, are you done with the glue?" "Debra, I need my pen back." "No Debra, you cannot use my typewriter." "Bring my hole-punch back!"
These are the fond memories I have of her, and will keep and eventually share with my children when they are grown.
When she passed, my sisters and I divided what we would like to keep of hers for ourselves. I found her card collection stashed atop the closet of her room, where we would sometimes share the big, comfy bed she had, which thankfully Mom got. There were tons of different cards in boxes. Looking through them, I never really realized how much of this greeting card business she really did, or understood just exactly why she was interested in this. I felt compelled to keep them. It was at that moment I was proud to hold them that close to me.
THE AWAKENING
As time progressed, I never sent out any of the cards she horded in
her closet. I didn’t really like the nuisance of sending out cards.
I barely did it for the holidays. I just never really thought about
the cards much. Sifting through her collection one night, I found
her handwriting on some card boxes. I've always liked her
handwriting. Then the strangest thing. I found a card that she was
preparing. She has her address label affixed to the top left hand
corner of the envelope. My oldest sister's address typed about
mid envelope. No stamp, yet. The inside, left side held her
straight lines drawn across the page, but no words. It was a
birthday card intended for my sister. She never got the chance to
give her.
I kept the card hidden, intending to pass it along to the rightful owner. From then, I developed the heart to slowly but surely mail some of the cards she'd had. "Thank You". "Missing You". "Happy Anniversary." All except the holiday cards. I kept those separate and aside.
After that night, I felt God telling me that as ornery and stubborn as she was with her things, she'd want me to take over, and carry on the thing she so enjoyed. I began to see what all the fuss was about. Back then I couldn't see or understand because I was so selfish and had the worst attitude. I always wanted to do my own thing, and I had the ability. Now I see, that when she was too tired to walk or stand, she'd sit at her humungous desk and prepare her cards for people. It was about selflessness, not selfishness. Selflessness has no room for pride. I realize too, that I wasn’t ready then to even understand the concept she had with the cards.
Bed-ridden and sore, as she often was, she still confined herself to that desk, finding something to do with all her stationary. The Lord took her when she was suffering from Lupus. She suffers no more. In 23 days it will be her birthday. I find it rather appropriate that this came about now.
THE IDEA
I knew back then what God wanted me to do, and I embraced it
whole-heartedly. He gave me a vision. A revelation, if you will, of
the intention of the cards. Unfortunately, until recently, I have
not picked it up since it was started some 2 years ago. Many things
came my way that blocked my heart from being lit by what started it
in the first place. People. Hurting people. Sick people. A man
losing his wife. Children losing a mother. An individual needing
encouragement to return to church. A note of gratitude for a
special friendship. A simple word of encouragement for someone in
times of depression and hopelessness. A letter to that heartbroken
teenager over the lose of her mother.
Too many people are hurting, lost and don’t know they have a healer waiting and wanting to heal them, and we concern ourselves about what we want to watch on TV, while they're on their way to hell. Sometimes the biggest change in someone's life begins when we take a small step. A step of kindness. A smile. A handshake. A note. Try doing something for someone else for a change. Give yourself a gift by giving to others. Consider putting on a heart for your neighbor. That single mother looking for some time off. Your friend who just wants you to listen. A heart for others will look good on you.
The crystal-clear idea of the greeting cards, that God had given me so long ago, was simply this: Send out cards of uplifting and encouraging words, on the OTHER days people wouldn't normally receive a card. And do it 'just because'.
Individuals across the world receive greeting cards for Christmas, for a child's Christening, a birthday and anniversary congratulations, holidays and special occasions of the like. Its not uncommon and greeting card distributors are a multi-billion dollar industry. Anyone is likely to receive a "Holiday Greetings" for Christmas. These individuals and families receive certain recognition on an occasion that is nice and pleasant to remember.
The idea the Lord gave me was "investing" in people just for who they are, not what they accomplished but because He "invested" in souls. Not accomplishment, success, convenience, opportunity, appearance, talent, and gifts. Investing in people is what He was good at, not to mention His Son. God is all about people. My hope is to invest in people with a card that simply says "Thank You." This greeting card ministry is founded solely on Biblical Scripture. In the Book of Proverbs, chapter 16 and in verse 24, you find a profound truth of the beneficial words that proceed from our hearts: "Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones."
This is taking place all too often all over the world. Some of you reading this know of someone who has lost hope. An individual you lost contact with for, who knows whatever reason. My mission in this ministry is to make sure that not one person that crosses my mind will have to feel hopeless or afraid, because I felt led by God to send them a card of encouraging words. I don’t want to boast on myself because I'm all messed up like the next person. The only difference between that person and I? Day by day, I am letting God heal me of past hurts so I CAN help the next person to be healed.
THE CONCLUSION
I cant live with myself anymore knowing people pass me everyday and
never get to know the savior, healer and redeemer of their soul.
The intention of this greeting card ministry is help get them to
hope, and then find their savior. Its founded firmly on God's
commandment to love others as yourself, inspired by someone very
close to me, and based on people - not on the occasion.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and share the joy that has been passed down to me.
