Two weekends ago I arranged a surprise trip home for the weekend. My mom and my grandparents AND my church family were ALL surprised.
Yesterday I received a supercool notebook in the mail.
It combines six of my favourite things:
notebooks,
crocheting,
puns,
homemade items from Etsy,
mail,
and SURPRISES.
I think the thing I enjoyed most of all was the anonymity. Not knowing who sent a gift gives me these butterflies in my stomach that tell me that I am loved. I am loved by someone, somewhere in the world, who cares enough to send me a personalized gift. How cool is that?!?
crocheting,
puns,
homemade items from Etsy,
mail,
and SURPRISES.
I think the thing I enjoyed most of all was the anonymity. Not knowing who sent a gift gives me these butterflies in my stomach that tell me that I am loved. I am loved by someone, somewhere in the world, who cares enough to send me a personalized gift. How cool is that?!?
After an exhausting week of leading a Bible Day Camp this summer, I checked my church mailbox and found this anonymous note. It has been pinned up on my wall ever since. I wasn't running the camp for a reward, but this tiny piece of encouragement was the best thing I could have received. Even writing about it brings a few tears.
Surprises and Encouragement are reciprocal acts of kindness. I learned this through the letters of encouragement I sent anonymously to an old friend who was on a longish-term mission adventure two years ago. I unintentionally ended up being changed by the words I wrote to her.
I know that I still have some surprises to receive. I have no idea where I'll be working this summer, what school I will be attending next year, or where I'll be living in seven months. I'm choosing to look at these as surprises, not stresses, and I hope you do too!
I have titled this post "Sur-Prize" because I think that random acts of kindness, and encouragement are really the prizes that are over and above all the rest. I'll leave you with a bible verse that I usually sign at the end of notes and letters.
"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up,
just as in fact you are doing" (1 Thessalonians 5:11).
just as in fact you are doing" (1 Thessalonians 5:11).
I received a surprise note of encouragement from Annie when she was a student in my grade 12 English class - it was very much appreciated. I came across it last summer - yes I keep everything - and it brought tears to my eyes again. I have kept the note.
ReplyDeleteAnnie, you are an amazing and inspiring person to know. I'm glad our paths crossed and hope they will again in the future.
Tracey Rogers
NKEC
I luved that you surprised me !
ReplyDeleteYou're a gem. <3
ReplyDeleteAnnie, you are definitely loved by people around the world! And as someone who has been surprised by you many times, I can say that you deserve every wonderful thing that comes your way. You brighten everyone's day!
ReplyDelete