A Humble Peg Bag

Years ago I remember my mother always had a peg bag that came into use each washing day.  It was made in the shape of a dress. Peg bags are something I have always found handy. Recently my daughter mentioned she didn’t have one and needed to buy one. So a few days later, when I saw them for sale at an Australia Day market I bought one for her which I gave her next time I saw her.

Fast forward a couple of month and it had been one of those days, or should I say weeks. You know the ones I mean, where everything that can go wrong does - where the computer mucks up and does odd things, when writing is not going well, when prayers don’t seem to be answered, when family health problems are an issue, when headaches plague the days making everything take twice as long, when shopping become a frustration or the person you have difficulty getting along with makes you roll you eyes and wish you were anywhere else but in the same room with them.  This was the scenario, when in the middle of bible study a text message came though that made me smile.

The message was from my daughter and concerned the above mentioned peg bag. She said that every time she hangs out the washing she thinks of me and is so thankful I’m her mum and for buying her the peg bag. In the scheme of things it wasn’t a huge deal but it encouraged me. I returned to the bible study feeling happier than I had before, all because of a few words of encouragement.

That’s all it takes sometimes to brighten someone’s day. It might be a phone call or a text message to let someone know you are thinking of them. It might be an email sent to your pastor or a few words after the service to tell him how helpful or challenging you found his message. Or it might be, as happened to me recently when a visitor from another church who came to our Easter services approached me and said how she appreciated the leading of the music. She also liked the choice of songs and how relevant they were to the message. I was quick to pass that information on to our music director who chooses our songs each week to fit with the sermon. Having done this job myself in a previous church, I know this is not always easy to do.

When it comes to writing it might mean letting another author know how you enjoyed their book. Recently I emailed an author about a picture book my youngest granddaughter enjoys. The author was delighted to hear the effect her words are having. Earlier today I posted a review of an author’s debut novel on Goodreads. You can find it here.  http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/527713524

What has encouraged you this week? I’d love to hear about it. Or maybe tell us where in your life you would like more encouragement.

Streets on a Map, was published by Ark House Press. Prior to that Dale has had seven children’s books and Kaleidoscope a collection of poetry published.

Along with her husband, Dale was for a time houseparent for a family of twelve boys. She has been a manuscript assessor and book reviewer and has run creative writing classes and written bible studies and Sunday school lessons. For several years she wrote about Christian living, marriage and home related topics for www.families.com. She has a BA in Literary and Australian studies. More information about Dale can be found at www.daleharcombe.com or on her Write and Read with Dale blog  http://www.livejournal.com/users/orangedale/