Comfort Journal

Toward the end of her life, my grandmother went into a nursing home. I wanted to lift her spirits by finding a comforting Bible verse to send her each week. She was an amazing woman of faith, so I knew she would enjoy reading the verses. I was new to the Bible. 

I learned a lot as I searched for the right verses to encourage her. Many of the uplifting verses I found were in Psalms (18:2; 46:1; 62:8); but I also looked for verses she would not know so well, such as Habakkuk 3:18–19 and Zephaniah 3:17. I wrote the verses in a notebook so that I wouldn’t accidentally send the same verse twice. I compiled a list of 150 verses before my grandmother died.

Afterwards, I bought a small journal, wrote the verses in it (one verse per page), and gave it to my mum, who suffers from depression. I also made journals for my mother-in-law, sister and grandson. Then my sister made one for me, which I carry in my handbag. I pull out my journal when I want a new verse to memorise or need a pick-me-up. Through these journals, my family members have shared God’s comfort with one another.