In my bedroom, in the corner furthest from the door is a tall book shelf. It stands on my side of the bed, stuffed with books, several bibles, bible study workbooks, dictionaries and our weather alert radio. Several pictures sit among the books, a favorite one of my daughter and me, one of my sweetheart and me when we were about sixteen and a small picture of our son when he was two weeks old. On top of the book case where the dust can get so thick it looks more like a layer of gray fur than dust; sits a box. The box is my Barnabas Box.
It's named after Barnabas, a man you can read about in the New Testament in the book of Acts. After his conversion Saul (aka Paul), went to Jerusalem to join the apostles but they were afraid of him and nobody trusted him. Barnabas was the one who stepped up and spoke favorably of Saul and convinced the apostles that Saul was a true believer. His name was Joseph, but the apostles called him Barnabas, which means Son of Encouragement. I named my box after him because it holds things that are an encouragement to me. Notes, mementos, cards, pictures, special things to me, things I treasure. No doubt you have the same kinds of things in a drawer, a tote or box somewhere.
When I open the box it’s kind of like opening a door to my past and taking a walk down memory lane. So many memories are held in that box. Cards and notes from when my sweetheart and I were dating, the receipt and price tag for my prom dress, the schedule for the 1978 football season. Birthday, anniversary and Valentines cards he has given me over the years, the card I got with the flowers he sent on our 21st anniversary.
Cards from my children, store bought and hand made. There’s a bookmark from my son for Mother’s day. One card he really liked, I have two of the same card given different years. He gave me a handmade Valentine in German, part of a German lesson from high school.
Creative artistic child that she is, there’s much more in the box from my daughter. Little notes that fold up and make their own envelope, post-it notes she wrote on, a letter of apology, a tiny paper box she made from an old Christmas card. There’s a drawing she did of my dad, drawn when she was twelve and given to me as a Mother’s day gift. Evidence of a budding artist in our family. Her “Breakfast-in-a-box” pages…each page with a drawing of a breakfast item, along with some warm fuzzy black house shoes she gave me as a gift one year for Christmas.
I have cards from friends and family over the years, thank you notes, notes to encourage me and some just to make me laugh. There are many notes and cards letting me know that someone is praying for me or my family. One very special to me is from a dear friend who lost her battle with cancer. One day I will get to see Joyce’s face again, until then I reread her card and her sweet words about praying for my daughter while she was on a mission trip.
As I sifted through the items in the box this morning, touching the things that passed through the hands of people I love and care about, I was encouraged. Over the years so many people took the time to buy a card, write a note, or make something for me. Each item is an expression of their love for me. Each item represents a moment in time when they were thinking of me and acted on that thought.
How often does God bring someone to your mind that you haven’t thought about in a long time? Is there someone you know who is dealing with something and could use a word of encouragement today? Is there someone you usually only send a Christmas card to once a year that crossed your mind as you read this? Take a minute and write them a note, send them a card, let them know they were on your heart today. Text messages are great, telephone calls are awesome, emails are convenient, but a personal note or card of encouragement is something you can hold on to. It’s something you can read, tuck away into a box then pull out to read another day.
After you write that note or send that card, go find your treasures and remember the people who have cared about you. If you don’t already have a special place for them, get yourself a Barnabas Box and start filling it with the bits and pieces of love others have sent your way.
No comments:
Post a Comment