The Gift Of Pampering

The Gift of Pampering

Encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Despite the fact that my babies are long past diapers and strollers and swaddling, there are a few things about those first few weeks and months when they were teeny tiny and newly home with my husband and me that are forever etched in my heart and in my mind. One of the hardest things was knowing that I was on maternity leave and that my time at home was limited and short.

I vividly remember silently ticking off the days and weeks of maternity leave with dread and sadness as I nursed my tiny babies in the early, predawn hours. The knowledge that I had only a few precious weeks hovered always in the back of my mind, and every Monday morning was another week gone.

Over the years, I’ve seen those same feelings reflected in the eyes of other moms as they quietly speak about maternity leave. Emotions run high those first few days back at work, and countless new moms I know have put on a brave face in front of their colleagues while confessing to friends about tears spilled in cars, outside of day care, and in office bathrooms.

When a friend went back to work after the birth of her daughter a few months prior, I put together the small present of a coffee gift card, flowers, and an encouraging note, and then my son and I stopped by her office toward closing time during her first week back. We whisked in, my son delivered the gift, and we whisked back out. We left her standing with a small smile on her face as she left one meeting and was about to enter another one.

Our gift was pure pampering, with nothing essential or useful—meant just for her, with nothing to do for her darling baby, her family, or anyone else. When we intentionally encourage and build someone up in the midst of a hard day, week, or season in their life with a kind word or a thoughtful gift, we live out Scripture in a beautifully tangible way.

—Julie

— Today’s Act of Kindness —

Prayerfully consider who might need some extra encouragement. Choose someone you can surprise with a small, fun gift of encouragement and pampering.