Gail’s Apples of Gold
“A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”
You recognize that verse, right? It’s from Proverbs 25. When I think of words that are aptly spoken, you know—appropriate, suitable and fitting words. When I think of people who use words that encourage, God always brings to mind my good friend, Gail MacDonald who lives back in New Hampshire. Now, I’ve known Gail for years and she is such an excellent example of that Proverb. Gail loves to collect these short sayings of encouragement from believers of days gone by, and she gathers them as though she were collecting apples of gold in a basket. Whether it’s a quote from a missionary or a line from a time-honored hymn, Gail realizes that a few wise words can go a long way when it comes to lifting the vision of a Christian friend or stretching their faith. And I know that when I come home from a trip if there is an envelope arriving in the mail with her familiar handwriting, I am about to be blessed.
That’s why recently, when I came home from a long trip, I spotted this letter from Gail on my kitchen table and I got so excited. And before I even took my suitcases into the bedroom, I just had to stop and open it, and I sat there and read her words of greeting. And I was not disappointed. Gail’s note was short, but she happened to include several lines from Amy Carmichael, the missionary who labored in India for so many years. This is what Amy Carmichael wrote. She said, “There is no need to plead that the love of God should fill our heart as though He were unwilling to fill us. For God is willing just as light is willing to flood a room that is opened to its brightness; willing as water is willing to flow into an emptied channel. Love is pressing round us on all sides like air. When we cease to resist, instantly love takes possession.”
Wow, to a tired soul like I was that evening, to a weary traveler, those were golden words, just what I needed to hear after a long trip. I was in need of a fresh perspective and God had moved on the heart of my friend, Gail, days earlier to mail me that special apple of gold. Oh friend, if only we could more fully appreciate the power of the written word! And you know? A new month is right around the corner, and perhaps this is a good time for you to begin collecting favorite Christian verses or quotations. I like to collect quotations from the Puritans; and I’ve got a running list of quotes from John Piper that I just love passing on.
So be on the lookout for apples of gold, and when you come across them, jot them in your prayer journal or tuck them in your daily planner. If you don’t feel you have a way with words, especially when writing notes or letters to others, then you can borrow encouragement from those who have written golden words. Build a file folder of quotations like that one from Amy Carmichael, and you’ll have plenty of words of inspiration (I promise) to share throughout the rest of the year with friends who need a boost.
Yep! Proverbs 20:15 describes my friend, Gail MacDonald, perfectly; and it can describe you too, for it says, “Gold there is, and rubies in abundance, but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.” There are so many treasures to be found in Proverbs, and I’d like to send you a wonderful pamphlet that will help show you those treasures in this poetic book of the Bible, the book of Proverbs. Just go to Joniandfriends.org and ask for your gift. It’s a free copy of something called “Proverbs”. A beautiful pamphlet folded out with verses and all kinds of rich insights from this incredible book. So go today to joniandfriends.org and ask for your free copy of Proverbs.
© Joni and Friends
