Don't Hide Your Golden Words
A Year End Reflection
Dear Friends,
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! Each year, we drive back to Pennsylvania to spend Christmas day with our families. So, we’re one of those families who travels on Christmas. We’re kind of wired that way.
Christine and I use the three-hour drive from Johnstown to Lititz to reflect on the year and cast vision for the months ahead. This year, I was given the wonderful gift of a severe head cold the day we arrived in Johnstown and subsequently lost my voice. That’s why there is no Saturday Stoke today. I’m very sorry because I love doing them for you all! But, Lord willing, The Stoke will return next Saturday. In the meantime, feel free to get caught up with The Stoke if you’ve missed the last few.
The week before we left for the north, I had one of those days in which everything seems to spiral into oblivion. It was one of those days where you think about all the ways you fail at your work.
I’ll admit. I don’t have those days often. I’m one of “those” people; perpetually stoked. I feel like I’m constantly looking at life for the first time, like when I was five. But this particular day was not one of those days.
Every now and again, the dark thoughts creep in and whisper lies of failure and comparison. They say, “Just quit, Tim. Find something else to do. You’re not really making it. You’re not making any significant impact.”
Something else about me—I’m also a classic oversharer. So, my wife gets a full load of what’s on my mind all the time. When she asks me how my day was, she gets every detail. Contrariwise, when I ask her, I get: “It was good.” Opposites attract! On this day of days, I dumped all the details of my despair on her, and she listened with a gracious ear.
I was down.
And then, I went to Taekwondo with my daughters and sweated my soul out on the mat. I thought that would at least help refocus my mind and cure my heart of whatever was ailing it.
When I arrived home an hour and a half later, I checked my email and found a note from a reader, we’ll call him Zack—because that’s his name! He proceeded to tell me how he found my blog by reading the post “Fighting for My Wife” and how much it impacted him. He also wrote some very encouraging words regarding The Saturday Stoke—urging me to keep at it.
I cried reading his note. I let my wife read it, and she cried. It was a literal answer to prayer on a day I was crying out to God for a word of encouragement. Zack’s words came to me as if they were God’s words spoken through a true brother.
These timely words of encouragement reminded me of this verse in Proverbs:
A person finds joy in giving an apt reply—
and how good is a timely word! (15:23)
This verse is like it:
Like apples of gold in settings of silver
is a ruling rightly given. (25:11)
Zack’s timely words were like apples of gold to me. They gave me joy.
So, friends, your words matter. What you say and how you say it, matters.
Don’t let things go unsaid. If you feel the urge to encourage someone, do it. We all need a word of encouragement.
In our cynical world, we need people who love sincerity and live with their guards down enough so the good words get out. Because I need your words! I need your encouragement. And I live richer, more blessed when I receive it. And so does every person you know.
So thank you, Zack. You made my week—quite literally. And thank you, friends, for encouraging one another “toward love and good deeds,” which is the underlying theme for The Saturday Stoke.
Take a moment today and text a friend who might need encouragement. Has God brought someone to your mind even as you read this? Give them a call and encourage them. Send an email to an old friend or colleague and let them know how much they helped you. Let your pastor know that their ministry matters to you. Whisper a “Thank you for all you do to encourage me” to your spouse.
Don’t hide your beautiful words of gold from those who need it most. And the great thing about giving your golden words away? They usually find their way back to you through the kind words of others.
Here’s to a wonderful 2020, y’all. Let’s make it the Year of The Stoke!
Happy New Year!
Cheers,
Tim
#StayStokedMyFriends
