Let's See How Inventive We Can Be!

This story started when I read Hebrews 10:24, which says, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” It got me thinking . . . how do we do that? King James says “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works.” Loving and doing good works is one thing, but provoking each other to do it? Hmmmm… My favorite version was The Message, which says, “Let's see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out!”

I brought it up at our next ISG meeting (our small discipleship group at IGSL). We brainstormed about how to create an environment that would help others show love and do good deeds, and we came up with several possible ideas. In the end, the idea that won was this: We wanted to encourage and bless the teachers in our children’s school. We wanted them to feel loved and appreciated. But we wanted to encourage others to join us in this good deed, as the passage said. Whom should we “spur on”? We decided to create an event in which the moms who are about to graduate and leave IGSL would show their love and appreciation to their kids’ teachers. And the event would be a ladies’ tea party, complete with fancy hats and shawls and beautiful teacups and fancy cakes.  You have to understand that I have a very creative and talented discipleship group.  If it were up to me, I would have baked the teachers a batch of brownies.  But my group thinks big when it comes to having fun!

We talked to the graduating moms, and they thought it was great idea. Who wouldn’t want to come to a tea party?!? So each mom chose one teacher to invite, and bring to the party. We created a little program, and came up with several ways to say “Thanks!” to the teachers.

The teachers loved it! They felt so special . . . lots of tears were shed, lots of hugs were shared. And lots of photos were taken . . . Now my ISG members are considering more inventive ways to get love and good deeds flowing in our community. And I am glad!