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In 1872 Louisa May Alcott wrote a letter of congratulations to the Luken Sisters. The five sisters, convinced their father to print their own journal. Little Things.
To the Luken Sisters:
My Dear Little Women –
I will certainly answer your pleasant letter & very gladly subscribe to your paper, although it has not yet arrived.
My two little men at once demanded it and were very much impressed by the idea of girls having a printing press & getting out a “truly paper.”
I admire your pluck & perseverance…Work is such a beautiful & helpful thing & independence so delightful that I wonder there are any lazy people in the world.
I hope you preach that doctrine in your paper, not the rampant Woman’s Rights fashion, but by showing how much women can do even in attending skillfully & cheerfully to the little things that have such an influence on home-life & through it upon the world outside.
I thought about how her letter must have encouraged those five young women in their new endeavor. It made me wonder how I could encourage a young person. Young people face experiences quite different from those we faced when we were their age. Often they try hard, only to be pushed down by the very people who should be encouraging them to be what God wants them to be. Let them know you value their uniqueness. Acknowledge and encourage their spiritual gifts.
Whose name did God put in your heart? Let’s encourage them with real postmarked mail this week!
To the Luken Sisters:
My Dear Little Women –
I will certainly answer your pleasant letter & very gladly subscribe to your paper, although it has not yet arrived.
My two little men at once demanded it and were very much impressed by the idea of girls having a printing press & getting out a “truly paper.”
I admire your pluck & perseverance…Work is such a beautiful & helpful thing & independence so delightful that I wonder there are any lazy people in the world.
I hope you preach that doctrine in your paper, not the rampant Woman’s Rights fashion, but by showing how much women can do even in attending skillfully & cheerfully to the little things that have such an influence on home-life & through it upon the world outside.
L. M. Alcott
Concord, Mass.
Whose name did God put in your heart? Let’s encourage them with real postmarked mail this week!
What a timely and refreshing post! Young people need all the encouragement they can get, and I know just which one I'll be sending a note to this week!
ReplyDeleteI've got someone in mind, as well!
ReplyDeletePamela, what a beautiful way to encourage the young people in my own life. One of my goals this year is to send two cards or letters a month (one to family and one to friends). Your words encourage me to instead of just focusing on aunts and uncles to remember my nieces and nephews too. Thank you, friend, for sharing your heart at #IntentionalTuesday. : )
ReplyDelete