Bread on the waters

We’ve recently marked Mental Health Awareness, and I put up a couple of posts on Facebook, asking people to look out for each other.

It made me remember a few years ago I felt very exposed and quite nervous as I talked on a TV current affairs show about battling my depression.

In the next few days after the broadcast I got email messages from three people.

Like this:

“Back in 2006 I had a very black time in my life triggered by an abusive marriage. You sent me an email and told me that I was a talented and good person.  Your email and my Grandad’s prayers helped me pull myself together.  I printed your email out and I have carried it from NZ to London to Asia and now it sits in my special folder.”

Or this one:

“I want you to know how kind you were to me when I was so very sick. It’s about 12 years ago now. You talked with me, listening to my endless worries and anxieties. You suggested that I should give myself permission to put these worries to one side for 24 hours, to give myself a rest. That really helped me and I am very grateful.”

And this …

“I saw you on that programme, and I wanted to recollect how much you helped me. Remember that long flight on a little plane? You gave me advice on that journey that pointed me in the right direction for my life. Thank you.”

Funniest thing … I can barely recall saying any of it.

That doesn’t matter really. Maybe it’s someone’s master plan to bring gratitude back to us like ‘bread cast on the water’ … reminders of the power of encouraging words – just when we might need it ourselves.