Helping Hearts
“Encourage one another and build each other up.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” Proverbs 18:21
Earlier this school year, some of my friends began receiving hurtful notes from another student in my grade. The notes were full of mean things and made my friends feel very badly about themselves. At recess one day, a few of my friends and I began throwing out ideas on how to help those whose feelings had been hurt by the anonymous notes. We thought that we could give encouraging and godly letters not only to the ones that were hurt but also to other students who could use encouraging words to brighten their day or to uplift those who felt left out. We called ourselves Helping Hearts and began our letter-writing mission that day.
At first, Helping Hearts was only made up of a few students. After we began handing out notes, many others, including kids in the other class, wanted to help too. Our group gave every student in 4th grade a handmade letter. Many students told us how much they appreciated the kind notes. After Helping Hearts began its mission, the mean letters stopped! To this day we still don’t know who wrote the hurtful letters. I hope Helping Hearts helped this person understand that unkind words can really hurt people’s feelings.
I shared with my little sister that we began writing notes to encourage others. She, then, began writing notes for her kindergarten friends too! It is a great example of what Satan meant for evil, God made GOOD!
By Mary Grace Olinger
Age 10, Whitesburg Christian Academy
7 Comments
Mary Grace You lift me up. I Love you and am very proud of you.
I have one of those personal love notes of my own from Mary Grace! She is truly a delight and precious young lady. I love you Mary for your sweet and ever so kind heart! I’m sure Jesus is smiling at you so sweetly!
Mary Grace — I am so awed and PROUD of you. You have taught a very important lesson today. At a tender age, words do hurt and can remain with a person for a lifetime. By you taking a negative action and turning it around, mean cannot win when facing good. I love you so much!
MG, this is just an example that Jesus is always in your heart!!! You are AmAzInG at 10 years old. I can only imagine what goodness you will continue to bring to this world. Love you bunches~
Mary Grace,
Me and Aunt Janie are so proud to claim you as our niece. Your love and ‘Helping Heart’ has reached us in Chattanooga, TN. You are such a delight and blessing!!
MG, you are a rock star! Just like Peter, the rock of the New Testament, you wrote letters of encouragement to help believers keep the faith. I am so proud of you and your friends! I will share this with Claire and SK. Maybe they will start a Helping Hearts chapter at their school!
MG!!! You ARE a rockstar!!! You ALWAYS shine for JESUS! I continue to be so proud of you!! Keep shining, sweet girl!!!