In my new book about our special-needs son Peter,  He Made Us Better: A Story of Faith, Family, Friends (and Football) I told the story of Laverne Peak. For probably a couple of decades, Laverne was our contact person for coordinating all of Peter’s home health supplies. None of us ever met her in person, but as a telephone representative for IU Home Health Care, she faithfully did an excellent job for us. Always patient and kind, not only did she perform her responsibilities well, but she very frequently went above and beyond.

Laverne was a pro. If there was something that we needed, but that was tangled up in insurance red tape, she always knew how to untangle it. Because she knew what people needed to keep going, and she made it happen.

But perhaps the most valued part of Laverne’s service was her cheery and encouraging attitude. Every month, at the end of our ordering session, she always concluded with “You have a wonderful day now!” And you could tell she really meant it.

After the book was released, I hunted up Laverne’s phone number and called her. After two and a half years, she sounded just the same, and sounded glad to hear from me. I told her about the book, and how I’d mentioned her in it, in appreciation for all of the great service she’d given us. But I told her that we’d especially appreciated her cheerful and encouraging words.

Then she said, “Every morning before I start my duties, I just pray and ask the Lord to help me to encourage someone today.”

I really wasn’t surprised. Although we had never talked about it specifically, I had suspected that Laverne was a believer. I came away feeling that I should have known that that kind of service and attitude was likely to have come from something deeper than just a mere desire to do a good job.

Proverbs 17:22 says that “A cheerful heart is like medicine.” For decades, Laverne has been regularly serving up generous doses of that medicine to her clients, as she works diligently to help them cope with their serious day-to-day challenges. And it all starts with being focused on others’ needs, and seeking divine assistance to help that encouragement find its way to where it needs to go.

Would you like to brighten someone’s day today? If so, that’s an awfully good way to start.