Act of Kindness – Week #17!!

“Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profundity. Kindness in giving creates love.”

   A couple weeks ago, the new intentional act of kindness that I wrote about was complimenting other people! Our words are so powerful, and we have been given the responsibility to speak love! This week, we are going to take it one step further though and not just speak love but encourage other people with written words!

*The act of kindness this week…show kindness by writing a heartfelt handwritten note to someone that you know could use some encouragement!!

   Life can be tough…there is sickness, relationship problems, unemployment, death, spiritual struggles etc etc etc. I believe that everyone can benefit from encouragement! I encourage you this week to intentionally write a heartfelt letter of encouragement! The body of the letter does not have to be long to be meaningful! A letter of encouragement will most likely leave the recipient of the letter feeling encouraged and even motivated to encounter whatever is next! Of course an email or text can have the same positive effect but there is just something more personable about a handwritten letter! A person can carry it around with them and read it at any time!

*My experience with the act of kindness…I try to do my best to send letters, cards, emails and texts to those I see going through a trial or those who have opened up to me about a struggle that they are currently facing. However, one of the reasons I chose this act of kindness this week is because of the countless people who have come along side of me during my life and encouraged me in several ways!  I am so thankful and grateful for you all! I have received letters, cards, texts, voice mails, face to face chats, phone calls, facebook messages, emails and even some smaller gifts! Your continued kindness and love means so much to me! It leaves me each time feeling so encouraged and stronger than before I read the uplifting words! Below are just a few different ways that I have received letters of encouragement from others in the past couple months! Each time I receive encouragement from someone else, it also reminds me to be more intentional about sharing this act of kindness with others in my life as well!

   For some of you, writing letters of encouragement might be a brand new thing! Do not feel overwhelmed by it, for I believe that we all agree that a short letter of encouragement is better than not doing anything! Better something than nothing, right?!! Below are a couple helpful guidelines on how to write an encouraging letter that I found online if you have not done it before! 

“How to Write an Encouragement Letter

Encouragement letters can have a very powerful effect on others. The perfect letter may express sincere support and inspire others to accomplish great things.

1)      When writing letters of encouragement, keep the tone positive, and focus on what has been or can be achieved.Your goal is to give hope or express how much you care.

2)      Encouragement is most needed after a disappointment or setback, and written encouragement can be very powerful in these circumstances. It gives the reader something to keep, share, and review.

3)      Demonstrate a tone of genuine appreciation in your encouragement letter.

4)      Be careful to avoid strong language that might discourage readers.

5)      Offer your reader help if assistance is appropriate and genuinely available.

A good time to encourage your reader is after he or she has successfully completed a task. The written word has a motivational power that casual comments do not have, and a positive letter can motivate the reader to even higher standards of excellence.”

   “While you may not be able to fix someone's circumstances, your encouragement can be instrumental in changing their perspective. Ultimately, a person's perspective controls the way they feel and react to situations. There are many uplifting words you can share, but God's words are "life to those that find them and they heal the whole body." (Proverbs 4:22)”

  Let me leave you with one more very important fact...our greatest love letter and letter of encouragement is from our Heavenly Father which is found in the Bible! Sharing His letter of love and encouragement with other people is very important as well!!

p.s. Please comment below with your own experience with this act of kindness! I would really enjoy hearing about it!!