We have an all staff retreat yesterday (Friday) and today (Saturday). A couple times a year we get away to dream, plan, evaluate, critique, and stretch ourselves. A great part of that is the relationship-building that takes place as we are in the same place for hours at a time. Friday night our spouses joined us for a meal and fellowship and Saturday morning we have a session with staff and spouses. It helps us get buy-in from the families of Grace staff.
One of the take-away challenges for us Friday was to encourage another staff member. We drew names of everyone in the room and were asked to email that name with an encouragement, including everyone else to see the email. I picked the name Katrina Watts. Katrina leads our preschool ministry. Here is the email I sent Katrina: (You should know that Katrina’s mom was one of the most godly women I have known and passed away a few years ago.)
Katrina, this week when I was pulling together the Myers Briggs information to use today, I found your mom’s assessment where we did it as a community group. I realized that you and she share the same type. It made me further realize (I’ve been noticing it for a while) that you are your mom. You have your mom’s heart for people. You have your mom’s desire to invest in everyone around you. You have your mom’s passion for worship. You have your mom’s sincerity. You have your mom’s pure heart for God. You are your mom’s daughter.
You are maturing into a woman of God in the way of your mother, and as you know, in my book, that is an incredible compliment. God is going to use you to impact and influence people in ways you’ll never know. Your mother never knew the positive impression she made on so many people and you may never know either, but God knows and others are taking notice. Be challenged to live out your faith boldly. Even when you have no confidence in yourself, God is fully confident in you. Trust the character and heart God is building in you. Allow God to continue to stretch and mold you. Your best days are still to come.
I love you my sister in Christ and I’m thankful to be on your team!
Ron
I share this to ask:
1. Who do you need to encourage today?
2. How does your staff/team retreat together?
3. Do you serve on an encouraging team?
I’d love to hear from you. (It would encourage me!)
