Words To Remember

An idea came to mind as I listened to the sermon last week. What if we wrote notes of faith, love, hope, and encouragement to our neighbors like Paul did with the Thessalonians?  

Though social media posts, emails, texts and other electronic connections exist, there is something different about receiving a handwritten letter. What is it about handwritten letters that warms our hearts and makes a lasting impact. When I receive a handwritten letter, these thoughts come to mind:

1. Writing this letter required someone to stop what they were doing and give it their undivided attention. They made time for me.
2. They made every word count. We all know that note cards can run out of space very easily.
3. It shows they care about me. 
4. It’s personal and has been a form of communication that has lasted the test of time. 

As a young girl I remember my grandparents sharing about how they met. My grandfather was stationed on a Navy Destroyer in the Pacific Ocean during WWII. His bunk mate was receiving letters of encouragement from a young woman from his hometown of Anderson, Indiana. My grandfather asked his bunk mate if he could ask her to start writing him as well. Lonely and in the middle of the ocean facing unknowns every day, the idea of hearing something from back home sounded pretty good. The rest is history: they began exchanging letters and fell in love.

Sending and receiving written letters is not as common today. We don’t often hear stories like my grandparents’ anymore. My children occasionally receive cards in the mail. I rarely write handwritten letters myself and it’s a rare practice for most people I know but this uncharted territory is a good reminder of the importance of heartfelt communication.

How will our children, grandchildren, and history books recall this unique season? Will they remember the political debates, the economic uncertainty, or the stockpiling of toilet paper and cleaning supplies? What if they found letters saved from friends and family that were filled with words of Gospel hope and encouragement? That would transform their understanding of how God was working during this period. 

​Let’s be the church and share words of Gospel hope with each other. To begin you just need to get out a pen and paper and start writing. You can write to medical professionals you know who are working in hospitals, or to those who are alone and isolated, or to a child that you regularly taught in your KidzMin class. Maybe someone comes to mind who does not yet have a relationship with God. A letter to them could be a great way to point them towards hope in Jesus.

​If you or your children would like to send a handwritten letter but don’t know who to write to, please contact me (asmith@pencomchap.com; (757) 768-8434). I have been compiling a list of people to write letters to and would love your help. If you have someone I could add to the list, please also let me know.

I hope we can all gather together again soon. I greatly miss our church family and especially all the KidzMin children, parents and volunteers. As we wait for restrictions to be lifted, consider who God is putting on your heart to reach out to and share his love with that person through some words of encouragement. As God instructs us in Psalm 96:3, "Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.”

Author

Amanda Smith is the Director of Children's Ministry at Peninsula Community Chapel