A handwritten note is a gift. It makes you slow down and think about what you want to say, and it shows the person you send it to that you care. Try it and see how many people you can lift up. It’s a simple, but powerful encouragement.
“A letter is a gift. It can turn a private moment into an exalted experience … it can be saved and savored. A letter is a treat with no strings attached.”
Alexandra Stoddard — A Gift of a Letter
By example, my mother taught me to write letters. She wrote wonderful letters to friends, extended family and people she wanted to encourage. But she wrote most of her letters to those of us living under the same roof. As teenagers growing up,if we needed praise, encouragement or correction, we would often get a letter on our bed that said “READ CAREFUL” on the front. I realize it should have said “Read Carefully,” but it said “READ CAREFUL.” Some of those letters were eventually collected by all of us who received them and put in a book with that same title. Writing letters is a way to express what we really want to say without being interrupted and without losing our temper or being embarrassed. It can be a spontaneous two-line note of genuine appreciation. When I get a personal note or letter in the mail, I always put it aside and save it until I can sit down and give it my full attention. Letter writing (including post cards, notes and cards) is a habit and it’s rewards are long-lasting. When I was going through my midlife divorce, those cherished, encouraging, funny, inspiring notes and letters from friends and family were so important to my healing. They gave me hope and courage along with laughs and tears. I have a box full, and they continue to bring delight, even now. Write a letter or just a short note of encouragement or appreciation to someone you care about. It can be refreshing for you both.
“Like a cool drink of water when you’re worn out and weary is a letter from a long-lost friend.”
Proverbs 25:25 (The Message)
