Royal Mail
I’m not sure there’s anything better than when the Royal Mail arrives!
When we were kids, my folks used to go nuts when a letter from England came to our mailbox. Their very demeanor would change. The presence of a letter meant they weren’t forgotten in this new world. Sometimes the letter included important updates, like health news, but most of the time it was the simple stuff of home. A paragraph about how things were going at church. Another about how the Blackpool Seasiders were moving up the table. A new recipe for Yorkshire pudding. A picture of flowers blooming in the back garden.
My mom lived the last years of her life back in her hometown of Blackpool, England. She cherished the time with her brother and sisters. She loved being involved again at The Salvation Army, where she grew up. When I’d visit, we’d hit up Papa’s, her favorite fish n’ chip shop in town.
We really loved it when she’d send us a letter. It was a bit of a lifeline, especially as she aged. Such a gift to stay connected.
My mom was Promoted to Glory a few years ago. I look forward to one day meeting my perfectly perfected mom.
This week, a letter arrived from my 90-year-old Aunt Elsie, who lives in Coulston, the next town over from Blackpool. I felt the same surge of gladness and a deep sense of belonging.
A handwritten letter. A beautiful expression of the celebration of kinship!
If you are unsure what to write, maybe one of the prompts below might give you an idea:
Share about the sacredness of your ordinary, everyday life.
Tell a cherished family story.
Ask a question like, “Tell me about the springtime in your town.”
Affirm, advocate, and bless the one to whom you are writing. A couple of our favorite blessings are “You are perfectly perfect. Just as you are, right where you are.” “Your presence is one of God’s greatest gifts to this world.”
If you need some other ideas or want to talk it through, reach out. We’d love to connect.
