The Power of a Simple Card ( & a giveaway!)

Never underestimate the power of a simple card.  Just over eight years ago, my life changed forever, all because of a greeting card.  Well, that's not quite right.  It was actually God, but He used a card in the hand of a young girl in my classroom to send me a message of just how much He loved me and knew what was going on in my life.  A single card ~ but oh the meaning!  Grieving the loss of our third baby in silence when no one had even known that we were expecting, I was stunned to receive a Christian sympathy card in place of the standard Christmas greetings from my student.  Only God!  In the years since it happened, I've often been thankful that the message came in writing. For several years following a move, the card was misplaced, and I almost began to wonder if I'd dreamt the whole experience.  Not long ago, the card resurfaced and I was able to once again refill my spiritual tank with the message of God's love and comfort, and marvel at the way that He had reached down to me.

So when (in)courage reminded us to send a card of thanks and encouragement and pray for someone in our lives and link up a blog entry telling who we'd chosen, it seemed the right time to participate.  Even better?  In exchange for a blog review, they would send out a pack of DaySpring cards.  I was going to take up the challenge to send a card anyway, but this would make it possible to encourage several people.   
Encourage one another and build each other up. 1 Thessalonians 5:11

The box came quickly and tucked in with the cards was a great surprise ~  I Will Bless You - Accordion Card Organizer.  I've had my eye on one of these for a while on their web site, so it was a real treat to find one in the box!    It's much sturdier than I anticipated, easy to carry, and for each month has a pull-out card to list birthdays and other important dates.  So much better than my current method of having cards strewn in random places all over my office that I can never find! The cards were so pretty though, that I was happy to have a safe place to store them until sending.

I received the  Holley Gerth - Hope & Encouragement - 10 Premium Greeting Card Assortment, along with a set of fun thank you cards from the same collection.  It was so much fun to begin planning who to encourage.  Who would not be expecting a card?  To whom did I want to extend a special word of thanks?  Who needed some cheering up this next week?  Faithful servants in the kingdom who work long hours with few thanks?  Single parents doing their best to fill the roles of both mom and dad?  Too many choices!

The first recipient of one of the cards was an easy choice.  Now that she is grown and in college, one of these cards is headed to the student who changed my life by following God's prompting to choose a sympathy card instead of a standard red and green holiday greeting over eight years ago.  She has grown into a beautiful young woman who I am blessed to call friend.  I pray that it will be an encouragement to her as she makes her way in the world.   I can't wait to see what He has in store for her life ahead!

As I looked through the other cards, some stood out immediately for a certain friend.  Others are waiting for just the right time later on.  In several states, today (or tomorrow, actually, since today is a holiday for the US Mail)  a little bit of God's love will be delivered in the form of a greeting card to several other wonderful women as well.  (Maybe even some of you reading this ~ if so, know that I had such a good time picking out a card just for you!)

And let me encourage you to let someone know today that you're thinking of them, that God loves them, and that they are not alone. Send a card, email or text.  Pick up the phone or visit in person. I pray for all who read this that you will experience God's love and care in a real, tangible way that leaves you with no doubt that He is real, that He knows you and what you're going through right now, and that He loves you immensely.

Giveaway: 
The folks at DaySpring have generously offered me a gift certificate worth $20 to bless one of you with (good through the end of the year!).  To enter, fill in the entry form below.  And consider sharing a comment of how you've seen God at work in your life.  I'd love to know more about what He is doing and learn more about you in the process.  If you're one of the silent readers joining me on this journey, this would be a great time to wave a hello!


I'll draw a winner randomly on Friday, January 20 at 8:00 pm, CST.

(My lovely 6 year old assistant helped me select our winner, who has been notified by email.  And I heard back from a couple of the card recipients, whose days were brightened.  :)  )

DaySpring provided me with this product free in exchange for a review. The opinions are 100% my own. Affiliate links used.