Thinking Of You

I opened an email from a good friend.
It made me smile just to see her name.
All it said was: THOUGHT OF YOU !!!
I had to scroll down to see what brought me to mind.

It was a Christian bloggers retreat.
A two-day conference in Asheville, North Carolina.
I read the description and it piqued my interest.
I looked at the dates and realized that it would not be possible, this time.

I was touched at her thoughtfulness.
First, what struck me was, I’m a blogger.
I see what I do six days a week as ministry.
Seeing that term made me pause.

Second, but really most importantly: I was thought of.
That is no little thing.
It means the world to people, especially if you tell them you are thinking of them.
Those few words can make their day and encourage them to press on.

How many times have I received a thinking of you card and a difficult day turned around?
Too often to count.
How many times have I sent a thinking of you card to help make someone’s day?
Not as often as I would like.

In this day of quick texts and twitter posts, it matters when someone gives you their time.
Time is a priceless commodity.
Giving you their time means that you must be very important to them.
It only takes a few minutes, but sometimes we feel that is a few minutes we just don’t have.

I remember having a hard day a few years ago and a dear friend knew it.
The next morning, she rang the doorbell with this delicious chocolate dessert.
Chocolate fixes everything, she said with a twinkle in her eye.
Actually, having a friend take the time to do something so special for me fixed everything.

It is the little niceties.
The bouquet of flowers for no reason.
Making coffee for your husband, when you don’t like coffee.
Taking a mental note of something that your child mentioned and surprising them.

It’s all about going out of your way.
Doing something just because.
Expecting nothing in return.
Being the hands and feet of Christ.

It is making a meal for a new mom when she brings her baby home.
It is shoveling a neighbor’s driveway when they are unable to do it themselves.
It is bringing the shopping cart back for an older person just to give them a break.
It is letting someone go ahead of you in line when you know you will be a while.

It is thinking what you can do for another.
What small thing will make their day?
I’m thinking of you; you’re important.
You have just made the first ripple in the pond.

Watch their smile.
See their countenance change before your eyes.
Contagious joy!
The kind of joy you want to catch.

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there and Jesus and His disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to Him, “They have no more wine.” “Dear woman, why do you involve Me?” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.” Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water,” so they filled them to the brim. Then He told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but You have saved the best till now.” This, the first of the miraculous signs Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed His glory, and the disciples put their faith in Him. (John 2:1-11)

The master of the banquet said it best.
You have saved the best till now.
That is the way Jesus does things.
We have a saying, saved the best for last; that’s the way we do things.

Jesus doesn’t do things that way.
His best is always NOW.
Can you imagine if Jesus withheld the amazing grace He bestows on us?
Can you imagine if Jesus failed to consider His people?

We would still be dead in our sins.
We would have no way of salvation.
This life would be all there is.
Heaven would not be a possibility.

Jesus did think of us.
All the way to the cross, He thought of us.
As he was dying, He thought of us.
When He rose from the dead, He had us in mind.

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2)

We are the joy set before Him.
See His smile?
Jesus’ thinking of you card was written in His blood.

Who are you thinking of today?
Tell them so.