Jan. 11, 2013

I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written on my heart – Psalm 40:8

Cards. I have spent the last couple of hours reading cards. As I’ve read cards people have sent because of my Dad’s death, I love the ones that include more personal comments people wrote about my Dad. These are just plain fun to read.

Many cards often include comments something like, “You are in our thoughts and prayers.” I have also written this in many, many cards. I learned awhile back that if I am going to write in a card that I’m going to pray for someone or a family, then I had really better do it!

We have just passed through the time of year when we get a lot of cards and letters. Usually, I look through them quickly and then in January, I go back through them and read them carefully. This is also when I pray for every family that we receive a card from.

The Bible is full of letters written for our benefit. The New Testament is chuck full of letters the apostle Paul wrote to churches that he helped start. Quickly, many of these faith communities had problems. He tries to give them advice and suggestions about how to deal with problems. Personally, the parts of his letters I appreciate the most are the more private comments; just like the personal comments I have enjoyed tonight.

Once again, I have discovered today that cards are important and meaningful: to give and to receive. I send lots of cards. But I want to be more intentional about what I write in cards. The extra 30 seconds to be more personal really is worth it. These are often the words that become written on our hearts. And this is where God desires for the important words to be written.

Thank you, Lord God, for the letters we can read; words written to guide our spiritual journeys. May the words we write and send to each other reflect your love and care for us. Help us to say words which we will follow through on.  Amen.

Blessings –

Dianne