Karen Ehman - Make Their Day: 101 Simple, Powerful Ways to Love Others Well

Let us consider each other carefully for the purpose of sparking love and good deeds.

Hebrews 10:24 CEB

Ever grow weary of all the bad news? Each time we flip on the evening broadcast, we hear of more turmoil, unrest, poverty, sickness, and devastation. Escaping to social media doesnt paint any prettier of a picture. There, our eyes witness a nearly constant scroll of snark and sarcasmat best. At worst, we see the outright hurling of hate.

While complaining to my husband recently about all the ugliness I see, I became convicted that my irritation spilling out verbally really accomplishes nothing. Nothing at all. Perhaps I need to stop talking and start acting instead.

In 1907, William Lonsdale Watkinson, an English Wesleyan minister, said something that has been repeated over the years by others, most notably by President John F. Kennedy. The pastor asserted, Denunciatory rhetoric is so much

Yes! Thats it. We need to be lighting candles.

This little book is full of 101 simple yet powerful ideas that I pray willin the spirit of Hebrews 10:24spark some love and spur on some good deeds. Consider this your go-to guide as you scatter kindness and shower love on friends, family, faraway loved ones, and even strangers. Lets do our part in outshining the negativity and hatred. Not so others will look at us and think we are oh-so-humanitarian and utterly amazing, but so they will think of God.

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:16 NIV

Its time we stopped cursing the darkness. Go grab a candle. Ill snatch one too. Together, we can count on God to provide us with a spiritual spark that will enable us to show to the watching world his goodness and glory.

In Jesus,

W[illiam] L[onsdale] Watkinson, The Invincible Strategy, in The Supreme Conquest, and Other Sermons Preached in America (New York: Fleming H. Revell, 1907), 217218, https://archive.org/details/supremeconquesto00watk.

Theres nothing better for a little pick-me-up than a fresh cup of coffee. In order to surprise a friend on a day she might need cheeringor simply to let her know she is seen and lovedshow up to her home or place of work with her favorite signature drink from a local coffee shop.

In order to make sure that her beverage is prepared exactly as she likes it, the next time the two of you are out to a coffeehouse, listen carefully when she places her custom order. Then document it in the Notes app on your phone. Then you will be able to surprise her with her preferred drink. I did this for a friend on the day after her only child moved away to college. I knew it would be an emotional day for her, so I delivered a steaming mug of caramel mochamade extra hot, with skim milk and light whipto her home. She had no idea how I knew what she liked until I revealed that I had saved it in my phone.