Invitation #3: Encouragement with a Card đź’Ś
In a world that moves quickly, it’s easy to assume people already know how much they mean to us. Yet some of the most meaningful moments often come from the simplest gestures — a handwritten note, a thoughtful message, or a few sincere words of encouragement. One small card can brighten a difficult week, celebrate a quiet victory, or remind someone they are truly seen.
Today, I’m sharing Invitation #3: Encouragement with a Card from my book, Simple Hospitality: An Invitation to Add Kindness to Your Everyday Life. In this excerpt, I reflect on the power of written words and how a brief note can become a lasting reminder of love and care. My hope is that it inspires you to slow down, pick up a pen, and offer encouragement to someone who may need it more than you know.
I hope you enjoy it.
Plato reportedly said, “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” We read verification of this in John 16:33, where it says, “In this world, you will have trouble.”
We are certain that people we know are encountering difficulties in various areas of their lives. From stress at work, at home, or even in their own minds, our friends are fighting battles of some sort, big or small.
I have found that a note of encouragement goes a long way, but if I am not ready to give encouragement, I might let an opportunity slip away. So, I have a drawer full of uplifting cards at my fingertips. Do not underestimate the power of your kind words. Simple words of encouragement are gifts we can all give without cost. A genuine compliment, a sincere apology, a heartfelt thank you—all these are soothing to the soul. Sharing these words costs so little, but it can make all the difference in the world to someone having a bad day.
First, keep your eyes open for beautiful cards, notecards, and stationery so you have a variety of cards to suit anyone. The card is just the beginning! Also, you could keep a stash of different stamps so you can find the right one for each card. I keep my stamps in a three-ring binder with plastic sleeves, an idea I garnered from the post office years ago. Stamps cost the same, so you might as well try and use a good one! Plus, it shows you put a little extra thought into what you are sending them. I order stamps online from the post office (usps.com), and it’s as easy as can be! If you receive a card from me, know that I have chosen the stamp . . . just for you! Handwritten cards are the grace notes of life! They make people happy and show your love.
“Handwritten cards are the grace notes of life!”
I like to always add something special to the card, such as a recipe, a prayer card, a Bible verse, or even a pretty paper napkin. I sometimes mail snippets of memories, a photo or some little memento that can fit inside the card. When the whole package you send is intentional, your encouragement means even more. Like the Latin proverb that says, “The word that is heard perishes, but the letter that is written remains.”
If you just keep your eyes and ears open, you will see and hear of opportunities in which you have a chance to make a small, but hopefully encouraging difference in the lives of people who come across your path. The international sign to know if someone needs encouragement is if they are breathing. If they are breathing, they need encouragement." said S. Truett Cathy, founder of Chick-fil-A.
“Do small things with great love.”
My goal is to brighten the world, one note at a time. I want to write truly heartfelt words. Each little package of love reminds the receiver that someone really cares about them. I want the person who opens my card to know that I took time to send them something special, which is a way to show your love. Most of us don’t realize the impact our small gestures of kindness can have on with the simple power of a handwritten note. We all have a chance to leave a mark on someone’s heart today. I know words are powerful, and I want to use mine well. As you read this, is there someone who comes to mind that you could send a note of encouragement to this week?
The foundation of hospitality is the desire to show love in everything you do. Mother Theresa said, “Do small things with great love.” Simple hospitality is following this advice.
I am always looking for cards on sale. I look at Hallmark, Home Goods, the Rifle Paper Company in Winter Park, Florida, and even Dollar Tree (they have beautiful cards for $0.50 or $1). I love it when our grocery store has a buy one/get one free offer on cards. If you find a good price, you can send more!
“It is my goal to brighten the world, one note at a time.”
I even like to purchase cards on sale for our daughters, Betsy and Anna. They love to send cards too, but being busy young mothers, they don’t have much time to go out shopping for them. It’s a double blessing to give cards to them because it extends my love for the written word. There’s joy in letter writing for both the writer and the receiver.
Recently, I met with a mom who expressed an interest in my stamp collection. She wanted to begin sending special cards with beautiful stamps but was not sure where to begin. I thought I could start a collection for her. I gathered some of my favorite stamps, some that would represent her well, and I gave them to her, placed right on the card, ready to send on an array of cards.
You can encourage others too. You don’t need a special stamp collection, but it’s a fun way to be ready!
I hope you enjoyed this blog post which is an excerpt from my book Invitation #3: Encouragement with a Card, Simple Hospitality, which includes 60 gentle invitations (or chapters) to live with more presence, connection, and joy. To explore all the Invitations, visit the Book page of my website or pick up your own copy today, you can purchase it here.
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