Two Folders

Today I was cleaning out my e-mail inbox. I'm an e-mail builder-upper. I delete all the spam, but I always forget to delete a message after I read it. It had been something like 3 months since I'd done any organizing, so I had about 800 e-mails to file or delete.

Fun times.

I have one folder in my inbox entitled "encouragement". It's where I store away those great ones you get every once in a while that just make your day. They usually start with a statment like...

I just wanted to let you know what God's been doing...
The most incredible thing just happened...
I just wanted to say...
God laid you on my heart today...

I started to read some of those messages. Made my day.

I have another folder where I store all those e-mails that you don't like receiving. They usually start with a statement like...

I just wanted to let you know something I've noticed...
I was really bothered by what I saw when...
Just some "constructive criticism" I wanted to pass your way...
Before I get into this, I want to say that I appreciate you and what you do...

Some of these e-mails are valuable to read. They are well thought out, written in love, and intended to help. Most are downright unhealthy and attempts to suck the life out of me. I always read them. At the end of the day, though, I make sure they get put into that special folder I've reserved for them. That folder is titled "trash".

As I read those "encouragement" e-mails today, here's some thought that ran through my head:

1. No matter what form encouragement comes in, it's always encouraging.
2. Where encouragement is great in any form, criticism is always best given face to face. E-mail is NOT a good option.
3. I'm an insecure person who loves to know that he's valued, appreciated, and making a difference.
4. I think, when it gets down to it, we all have something in us that needs encouragement. In fact, I think that need is placed there by God. This made me sit down and write a few long needed words of encouragement and Thank you to others.
5. When criticism comes, it's never healthy to completely overlook... yet it's also unhealthy to internalize based on one voice.