It’s that time of year again! Thanksgiving! Tomorrow all around our country, and in fact all around the world, people will be gathering around the table and spending time together focusing on all the ways they are blessed. Many people even engage in the “30 Days of Thankfulness” and use each day of November as an opportunity to post a specific blessing on social media.

All of this is wonderful, and while I am on the topic let me just say how thankful I am to be surrounded by thankful people. It is so encouraging to see the positive and appreciative things my brethren share on Facebook. It is such a blessing to visit with my sisters in Christ and have them share the ways that the Lord is working in their lives. It’s wonderful to spend time at the park or in the kitchen with my own children and see the joy on their faces at the “little things” we do together that will create the big memories that follow them the rest of their lives.

   Yet with all this thankfulness and appreciation please allow me to ask a few questions. When was the last time you thanked the grandma in your congregation who is reaching out to the struggling young mother? When was the last time you thanked the person who takes care of the flower arrangements in your church building or who cares for the lawn or changes the light bulbs? When was the last time you thanked your elders or minister for the hours each week they spend in prayer and service? When was the last time you really showed your appreciation to the men and women who spend hours every week preparing Bible classes for your children?

You see sisters, I believe that while we are very thankful and appreciative people, just like most people there are also things, and people that we often take for granted. While, as Christians, these brethren are certainly not serving for the glory of it, a little bit of thanks goes a long way. Galatians 6:9 tells us, “And let us not grow weary in doing good.” The reason this passage is necessary is because at times, doing good can be exhausting. At times, even the best of us feel unappreciated, or that our efforts mean nothing and do no good.

In response to this need, our congregation has begun sending, “You Got Caught!” cards. These are very simple postcards that we had printed up, and on the front they say, “You Got Caught, doing good!” On the back there are a few lines for a brief message and an area to address the postcard. The whole idea behind these postcards is to help us notice the positive things our brethren are doing, and then encourage them to keep it up! We keep them available, and encourage our brethren to send them any time they notice brother or sister serving or sacrificing in a particular way.

While this is a newer ministry for our congregation, I believe it is a tremendous blessing, both for those who send and those who receive the postcards. Knowing that your efforts are making a difference, and having a specific way to focus on the positive things your brethren are doing really helps keep your cup full! So as we go throughout this holiday season and are focusing on our blessings, let me offer this challenge: how many brethren can you “catch” this month?

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Lacy Crowell

Lacy Crowell is the Associate Editor for Come Fill Your Cup. She and her husband, Jonathan, worship with the Garriott Road church of Christ in Enid, Oklahoma where Jonathan serves as the Youth/Family Minister. They are blessed with four precious children which Lacy has the privilege of homeschooling. Lacy has an Associate’s Degree in Biblical Studies from the Bear Valley Bible Institute, and is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapy Candidate. She has been published in Christian Woman Magazine, Think Magazine, Queenly Quest and KAIO Publications, and has spoken for various ladies’ days, girl’s youth rallies and camps both domestic and foreign.

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