beWARM

I am still thinking of those women in the movie Letters to Our Daughters who were brave enough to share their thoughts on the big screen.  Filled with admiration for all the challenges they have overcome, I gratefully reflect on the relative ease with which I was able to get my education and start a family.

It is remarkable how words can touch the heart – and, when there is a visual image to accompany those words, the message can go deeper yet.

I dredged my memory to recover when I last wrote a letter to my daughters. There it appeared, in My Documents, under “To My Dearest Daughters….Christmas 2005.”

I was particularly thoughtful about the fragility of life that year, as we had just lost Joey’s Mom.  This question came to mind –“What do my daughters really know about me – about the things that fuel my heart and soul?  And which of those would I want them to remember most?”

I had used the letter as an introduction to a book of my favorite quotes that I had compiled for them as a Christmas gift. Upon re-reading, there is not much I would add or change, five years later.

Receiving a letter is an infrequent  but treasured  experience in today’s world.  Those thoughts intended for you and you alone, on paper to grasp your hands around, to hold close to your heart, are a rare gift.

Think of that wave of anticipation you experience when a hand-written letter appears amidst the pile of bills and junk mail! And how often does that welcome sight appear?

Presently my email inbox shows that there are 1342 unread messages (the majority of which are ads and “special offers” accumulated over past months.)  With one mouse-click, I can mark them all as “read”, and relieve myself of the nagging pressure that I am just not keeping up electronically.

By contrast, I have a stack of notes and letters that I have saved over the years; these are expressions  of the heart from family and friends that I treasure, and never want to forget.  Time and time again I am touched when I read them.

If their number exceeded 50, I would be surprised. Maybe they have even more value because letter writing has become a lost art.

Words are cheap…but become precious in the form of heartfelt expression, and even more so when put on paper.

When was the last time you wrote a letter to your daughter…or son…or spouse, parent, or special friend in your life? If you did, was it – or would it be – an expression of thanks, love, sympathy, or even apology?

Or, here’s a wild idea…have you ever written a letter to God? You can share your deepest desires, wildest dreams, and biggest hurts with Him, without fear of criticism, analysis, or rejection. ( I don’t know what the postage would be…so perhaps using a journal would be a good place to begin…)

Think of that letter you have been “meaning to write“, but just “don’t have the time”, or just don’t know where to begin.  Stop and say a little prayer for the person you have in mind; think of what might be on their heart right now..remember all of the good things about them.  My guess is that your words will come…and they will be blessed.

Signing off for now, and reaching for my pen…