Hallmark cards are lovely, but sometimes they just aren’t available. This setting took place on my first day of work at this new company. I was being shown around the area in which I would be working. After the tour of the facility I was taken to where my desk would be. It takes time to settle into a new job, and this morning I was at the task of organizing my desk. My new boss was very cooperative and understanding, so I was left on my own for the morning to get the supplies I needed in place.
Not long after sitting there, a boisterous employee was making her way over to my area. I don’t know if she had a reason for coming by, or perhaps she was checking out the recently added employee.
She seemed to be regularly lingering around my office area. I think one of the other secretaries in our department was a friend of hers, so I was assuming that that may have been the reason for her occasional visits.
It didn’t take long to discover the latest news was the department’s celebration of this gal’s birthday. It was the sound of her voice oozing out of her vocal chords that today was her birthday. I didn’t pay any attention to her birthday announcement. After all, I was new and I didn’t know her. And as I observed her personality I wasn’t drawn enough to join in her celebration uninvited.
But I sensed a gentle nudge within prompting me that I should take notice of this gal. At first, I dismissed the “nudges.” However, the inner nudging increased to the point that I found myself searching my desk for anything that was there to resemble a birthday greeting.
Being new, I was not equipped with a selection of cards, as you might understand. But in an odd way, I felt like the Lord was moving me to just grab something cute and write Happy Birthday on it.
Well, the only artsy supplies I could retrieve from the desk was a white 3×5 card and a felt-tipped pen. I began rummaging through my purse and found one stick of chewing gum. That’s all the potential birthday gift I could muster.
Now I’m not the brightest button on the shirt when it comes to “crafts.” I wondered what in the world could a person do with these three items. So, I folded over the 3×5 card, lengthwise, and taped the stick of gum inside the folded card. I wrote HAPPY BIRTHDAY on the front side. On the back side, I believe I wrote “this is not a Hallmark card,” as if that announcement was necessary. Voila, a not-so-wonderful birthday card was ready for delivery.
It took me awhile to figure out where her desk was located. I was a very alert for the rest of the morning after the “card designing session was over,” waiting to figure out where the delivery would occur. I watched and waited for her next appearance. When she was headed back to her work area, I followed her from a distance to find out where the postal carrier should make this Hallmark delivery.
When it was my break time, I meandered over to her area, looking ever-so-innocent, ready for my birthday delivery. Ah ha, she’s away from her desk, so I placed the card on top of her desk and made my exit.
It didn’t take long for the card to be discovered. I could hear her coming my way. She was pausing here and there asking others if they put anything on her desk. Apparently my facial expression let the beans out of the bag. She burst out with “did you give me this card?” Well, I sheepishly nodded. I thought she was going to go into tears. She was overwhelmed that I took the time to do such a sweet thing. About this time, my jaws were parting, as I couldn’t believe that she was so touched by such an “insignificant little card.”
Throughout the remaining hours of that day, she would repeatedly stop by my desk and thank me. She was even showing others this “handmade card” telling them she received it from me, a brand new employee.
Well, what does all this tell us? That people love being remembered….even if it’s only a wee 3×5 card that tells them you’re thinking of them.
The Scripture verse from the Bible, 1 Peter 2:17 “Honor all men” is so significant. It means to take notice of another, and respect the fact they were designed by God.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU……whenever that may be!
Cups of Cold Water 
Love love loved this. So cute
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I loved this story. It reminds me that kindness is a lifestyle and small efforts can touch another’s life in a big way. You are such a good writer and I am always blessed by your blog. God is really using you, dear sister.
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