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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Encouragement (among believers) (11/08/07)
A WORD (OF ENCOURAGEMENT)

Boy, I sure do dread reading the review on my most recent article. I just know had at least two glaring mistakes from really not reading over my article before submission. I’m afraid the mistakes will totally cover up all the message that I wanted to convey. I know--I know, it is just practice, but my teacher-self agonizes that I sent in mistakes on something that I put in lots of time to do--well, maybe not as much time as I really needed to do. Admit it, Joan, you are acting just like the students that you once taught. I know I’ve not read over my written piece often enough to catch errors. I cannot believe that I am doing the same thing as I told them not to do --Oh, well, I must just get over this self hate of not being perfect. Guess I better be brave enough to read the reviews on my article.

Expecting the worse reprimand, I read bravely what my reviewer had written:

“I’m sure you know by now that part of your piece is missing.”

I certainly do--those mistakes were a little too obvious to miss--a whole thought totally missing!

“However, I really appreciated your sharing your idea on evangelism. This method of a party to build friendships for Christian fellowship first is certainly better than when I tried evangelism in my impersonal attempt of just inviting people by just walking neighborhoods. Thanks for a neat idea.”

What?--I had to read the review again, and I did. Well, wow, I could believe it! The reviewer was really so very kind--both unexpected and undeserved. I had been ready to almost quit writing or trying to write again because I felt deep inside I really don’t have the patience to be a writer. I think I had graded too many English papers to take any delight at all in correcting anyone’s mistakes--and certainly not my own! And here is a review that makes me feel I can actually keep on trying. I am aware that I don’t personally know this reviewer who took time to not only read a partly poorly-written article, but who also wanted to encourage me to continue.

And my thankfulness turned into a short prayer to God: “Thank you, dear Lord, for the sweet note of encouragement you have sent in this special Christian person. You show your love in so many ways, and the best is when your chosen followers actually listen to you. Please, God, may I do the same. Extend your love through me in any way so that I, too, can be the your ‘Word of Encouragement. Amen.
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Member Comments
Member
Date
LauraLee Shaw
11/15/07
Isn't this just the way it works? This has happened to all of us in our writing! I just know it!!!!

I've had the EXACT experience here in this uplifting community! God is good to give us each other. We are His arms to hug and His feet to walk alongside. And in this case, we're His typists, pouring out HIS words of encouragment.

Thanks for sharing this! ;)
Jan Ackerson
11/16/07
How sweet! I hope your commenter reads this and feels encouraged, and that it goes full cycle. This was such a gracious entry.
Seema Bagai 
11/16/07
Isn't it great how people encourage each other here at FW? Thanks for sharing this.