Does anyone like to send or receive letters in the mail? I think most of us enjoy getting a personal letter or a package from someone. Nowadays everything seems almost instant – messaging, email, skype, etc. Many of us always have our cell phones near. But there’s nothing like a personal greeting that you can save.
Do you remember what it was like before all this instant communication? It was a bit harder to contact someone when all we had was snail mail or a telephone. I’m sure some people remember a time before telephones and when the postal service was also a lot slower.
I love the convenience of cell phones, messaging and email as much as anyone else. But I don’t want those to be my only way to communicate with others.
One of the things I have tried to do this past year or so is send encouraging cards to friends and family. Sometimes I used photographs to make a greeting card.
It gives me joy to send a card to a friend and know that it will bring a smile to their face. Often I use a simple watercolor painting of flowers or a small scene to make a card. I just glue it to some cardstock that I have cut and folded into a card shape. Here are some I made while on vacation and sent to my daughters.
Send a Personal Greeting
It’s such a lovely thing to receive a handwritten note from someone letting you know they care. There is something about holding it in your hand and getting to read it over again anytime.
I have received beautiful cards from friends that have sketches or painted flowers, and I treasure them. These cards below were sent to me by some dear friends. I will treasure them as I know they were sent with love.
A Simple Greeting Will Do
Wouldn’t it be lovely if we could bring back the art of letter writing?
There are many people who do still write letters, but I think it would be great if more and more people brought back that personal touch.
And it doesn’t have to be a lot; sometimes just a sentence or two is all you need to write to let someone know you care. It doesn’t even have to be handmade for someone to appreciate the gift of a card or letter.
For those of us who know Christ and have received encouragement through Him, it gives us even more joy when we encourage someone else. I love the exhortation to us in this passage from Philippians.
Philippians 2:1-4 (NASB)
Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.
Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
What do you think? Maybe try an experiment and send a handwritten letter or card to someone you know would be blessed by it. I guarantee that you will be just as blessed as the one receiving the mailing.
Send is the prompt word for Day 6 of the #FiveMinuteFriday #10daywritingchallenge
I’m linking up with: #InspireMeMonday
I love, love, love sending cards and letters in the mail. I think I learned to love the cards and letters because my parents always enjoyed getting mail and sending mail. When I was a young girl, the letter carrier came to the front door to place mail in the mailbox attached to the house. We often visited with the person and became friends. I love to send mail and receive mail. 🙂
What good memories, Melissa! When I was young we also had the mailbox was right by the front door. Sometimes we’d have conversations with the mail carrier. I’m glad you also love to send and receive mail! Blessings to you!
Dear Gayl,
Thank you so much for all of the love that you share as you send your cards. You have blessed me so often with your precious notes of encouragement! And what a surprise blessing to see my Mother’s sketch that I sent to you. You have brought tears to my eyes again tonight. I am so thankful that the Lord lets us share–even in ways that are passed on through the generations. Love and hugs to you my dear poet/sister/friend. xoxo
Dear Bettie,
That sketch of your mother’s means so much to me, as I know it meant a lot to you. I will cherish it. And I am so glad we can share with and encourage each other, even through the generations. I wish I could have met your mom. Much love to you, my sister, with hugs and blessings! xoxo
What a lovely sentiment. I still send cards with a handwritten note inside, but I do admit not as often as I should. Thank you for the reminder of how it brightens the sender & receivers day.
Gina, I think it’s great that you send handwritten notes. Even if it’s not as often as you’d like, at least you are making an effort. I would like to do more of it myself, and I also need this reminder. 🙂 Thanks for visiting and happy cardwriting! Blessings to you!
Gayl, your post hits home with me! If you see my web address, you will know why 🙂 I think we were meant to connect! Love your words today.
Thank you, Carolyn! Yes, I love your web address. I really want to start sending more cards and letters. It’s so rewarding, isn’t it? Blessings to you!
Gayl, I hear you! And I loved reading your thoughts here. If you see my web address, you’ll know why 🙂 I think we were meant to connect!
Carolyn, my website is funny. I sometimes automatically approves comments and other times make me approve them. I thought I had it set to approve all comments, but one friend of mine always has to wait for me to approve. I don’t really understand why.
I love receiving cards and letters. This is such a great reminder to take the time to encourage others. I hope you have a lovely day.
Thank you, Jolene! I hope you also have a lovely day. Yes, I love giving and receiving letters and cards. 🙂 Blessings to you!
I used to write to my cousins all the time when I was a girl–I probably still have some of those letters :). I wrote to my mom a lot the year I spent in Spain in college, because I wanted her to experience foreign travel. I have all of the love letters between my husband and myself :). I still write to my daughters occasionally, and I’ll start writing to my grandson soon :). Can you tell I love hand-written letters?
Wow, that’s great, Anita! I really want to start writing more letters. I’m glad you love hand-written letters. Blessings to you!