In The Master's Service

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A SUGGESTION

Elder Rufus Blackshear   From "Good Will" Dec. 1956

All down through the years, I have from time to time received encouraging and comforting letters from brethren and sisters that did me much good. These letters were mostly unexpected and for that reason were more appreciated. Many of them came at a time when I was low in the valley and needed encouragement, and they were as a cup of cold water to a thirsty soul. Perhaps the writers did not place so much value upon their missives, but to me they were priceless.

I believe we can be helpers one of another in many ways, and it is our Christian duty to do so. We pass many opportunities by when we could be helpful to some of God's children, and in passing these opportunities by, we do ourselves and others an injustice. None of us are so strong and sure of ourselves but what we need an encouraging word, and the man or woman who never has doubts or feels desolate and lonely does not belong in the Old Baptist Church. My suggestion is this, and I hope the readers of GOOD WILL will take it seriously, that each of us take time out at least once or twice a month to write some brother or sister a word of encouragement. If you want to find out just how much help this will be in the lives of others just let someone write you a comforting letter.

I will confess that I haven't done this as I should. One reason has been that I have neglected to do so, and when I have maybe thought about it I have felt to be too poor and unworthy to be of help to others, but we are not to be the judge of our efforts, and so this is no excuse. Let us consider this and then make an effort to put the suggestion into practice and see if we won't promote more love among our people. Many of us often feel to be unloved and perhaps unfit for the church, but a good letter of encouragement would lift us up and make us rejoice for a season.

The person you write need not be a member of the Old Baptist Church, for any child of God would appreciate knowing that someone thought of him or her to wish them God speed, Let's try it and see if we won't be happy in the doing.