"It behooves every man to remember that the work of the critic, is of altogether secondary importance, and that, in the end, progress is accomplished by the man who does things." ~Theodore Roosevelt
I consider my friend John Dobbs to be one of the men in my life who actually "does things". I know men who do large, bigger than life things. I know other men who do small things. Small things can mean so much.
The post below appeared on my blog in July of last year during a dark time in my life.
It had already been a tough week. Friday wrapped things up by being a hellish day. After the week from hell I got into my truck to head home. While I was driving home I felt like I had the weight of the world on my shoulders. Even after 7 months of sobriety all I could think about was putting my head face first into a pitcher of beer and locking my lips around a bottle of vodka or whiskey. For the very first time I called my AA sponsor and said, "Please talk me out of a trip to the tavern!" He stayed on the phone with me until I pulled into my driveway. I got out of my truck sober but I still felt down, depressed, discouraged and hopeless. Instead of walking into the house I felt compelled to check the mailbox. I opened the mailbox and looked inside. Junk mail, bills, more bills and mail from my friend John Dobbs. I opened up the letter from John. It was full of encouraging words. As I read the words he wrote on a simple card it was as if I'd received an injection of hope.
I suppose that if I was one of those "perfect Christians" I would say that I always receive hope and encouragement from a sermon or by reading the Bible. But I'm not a "perfect Christian". I often don't feel, see or hear God through sermons or while I am reading the Bible. I experience God most often through people. Through a homeless man that hugs me and says, "Mike, God loves you", the text message from a man who is dying of liver cancer who wants to see me before he dies or an encouraging letter from a man I met through the world of social media.
God wants you and I to be an encourager to someone today. Don't wait to pick up the phone, send an email or write down words of hope on a card and put it in the mail. It might be your turn to be Jesus in an envelope.
"Courage is the whisper in the moment of despair that says: "I must go on..." - Daniel Waldschmidt
"Maybe today is someone's day to have their world changed and you'll be their world changer...” @jackalopekid
Thank you John.
Thanks once again for sharing God's strength out of your weakness and vulnerability Mike. Love and peace to you.
ReplyDeleteWhat a powerful testimony!! Thank you sharing!
ReplyDeleteJohn and Maggy are wonderful people. I too gave up drinking and drugs and have been “free” for almost 35 years. I know the main source of my strength came from God and my faith in him but also from the people he put in my life to encourage me along the way.
God has a purpose for all of us and he will use you too to be that encouraging voice, hug, and listening ear to someone else who is struggling.
I meant to say "for" sharing. :)
ReplyDelete