Is there anything we can do to win someone in addition to sharing the gospel?
“Actions are noticed by men. Monica, St. Augustine’s famous mother, taught her neighbor gentlewomen when asked how she won her perverse husband. ‘Why’, she said, ‘I observed his mind, and pleased him in all things it didn’t matter. I was patient in his passions, gave him contentment in his diet and attendance, and so I made him first God’s, and then mine by degrees.’ These ways should be used by preachers and they would convert multitudes…. O let us do the works of true Christians, and approve ourselves to God and man!” — Samuel Ward
CJ Mahaney includes a similar strategy (among many other wise suggestions) for parents to win their children: “Bless your children with many gifts in many forms! …Study your children in order to discern what gifts would genuinely bless them and then purpose to surprise them as often as possible.”
The kindness of God leads to repentance. I want to become a specialist in pleasant surprises.
Inspire me. How have you pleasantly surprised your children/spouse/friends? Share some ideas.
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Made a baby bed for our daughter's precious favorite baby doll, out of cardboard boxes and fabric, complete with a little patchwork quilt and tiny stuffed teddy bear. Very little money but a lot of time and love. MUCH appreciated and treasured. Saving it for any future granddaughters God may give.
Lisa, what a treasure! I think every one of your future granddaughters will have to have one.
simply coming home from the supermarket with the correct items that my wife actually asked me to get (not some other item that looks the same to me) has many times made her day
You mean you bring home the actual items and not look-alikes? That must take an intense amount of concentration! I don't think I could do that. Thanks Karl.
For dear daughter – a surprise visit to Starbucks, for dear son – a day out on the slopes; for my dear husband -having supper ready when he arrives home from a long day at work is a given but having his favorite mint chocolate chip ice cream in the freezer is a nice surprise..
Thanks for the reminder – I'm making it a point to look for other ways to minister to my family.
What a great wife and mom you are, Elaine. Great surprises. And I too really like mint chocolate chip ice cream. Just thinking about it makes me think I might have to get myself a little gift.
Not something I did, was on the receiving end — I was having a difficult semester at school and pretty much ignored fellowship in favor of studying. During the week before finals, I received a call from a friend in a campus fellowship. He asked me where I was, but not wanting to be bothered I told him I was busy studying. He persisted though and told me that he just wanted to drop off something small, so I told him. A couple minutes later, I was the recipient of a care package — filled with snacks, candy, drinks, and a hot pocket pizza to munch on while studying — in addition to an encouraging, "you can do it!" It was definitely a pleasant surprise and undeserved gift. Since then, I have also given small gifts to friends during test season.
Wow, great story, Moon. Thanks!
Well, our church has been doing a fantastic year-long series on being a blessing in the community – pay for someone's meal, let someone in during rush hour traffic, give coupons to people as they shop, etc. Here's a link to the website with stories: http://www.betheblessing.com/
As for my own family, hmmm… I get special treats for Chris in his lunch for work. I try to find a special toy every once and awhile for Henry – the recent favorite – a saxophone just like daddy! We're working on creating a heritage photo book for mom with pictures all the way back to her grandparents' childhood photos through the ultrasound of our new baby. A friend of mine had a fantastic blessing – she posted on facebook that she was having a rough night and was having a hard time thinking of what to do for dinner. Someone anonymously had a pizza paid for and delivered to her door – tip included!
Thanks Audra! I want to check out the stories on the website. I think you should put little special toys in Chris's lunch. What a great story about the pizza! That's really cool.
I like hand writing letters and sending them in an envelops with a stamp. I like receiving them too.
-Marshall Jones Jr.
That's great, Marshall. I like getting a personalized card or note too. Great thing to do in our e-world.
My sister loves books. So usually i surprise her with interesting fiction ones. Recently she injured her leg and could not move around and had no access to internet. Just to make it innovative i took a printout of one of ur posts(she reads ur blog regularly, and was missing it) put it on a cardboard paper and told her to write her comments on it. So will be laminating it so that she will remember in the future the Scripture verse that encouraged her during this trial
Wow Caroline, what a servant you are to your sister! Not only are you a servant, but a creative servant!
Sounds like you're a wonderful servant to your sister, Caroline.
As a former youth leader I lost touch with several girls after they left our youth group a number of years ago. Recently I "found them" on facebook. I offered to send them photos of the happy times they experienced in the youth group. Both were eager to receive the photos. I'm hoping the photos will remind them of the truth they were taught and motivate them to get involved in church again.
That's great Jeannie. What a great way to bless them and remind them of the gospel they heard.