Writing a letter, sending a colorful card or penning words on the back of a postcard have all become a lost art. Precious are the ones sent my way. Kind and newsy letters my grandmother wrote still sit in my “personal” file in the cabinet. Beautiful birthday cards from my aunt are stored in a decorative box. The best letters saved are the ones my husband wrote to me while we were engaged and separated by over a 1,000 miles for three months. These letters have a space all their own. I have sent many postcards to family and friends in the USA with beach scenes or colorful fruit vendors because we wanted to say hello. There is something about a handwritten word that says, “You are worth the time.”
As I arrived home from a stressful day of meetings, something on the ground caught my eye. Someone must have thrown this white rectangle envelope over the wall into the flowerbed in my property (never mind the mailbox on the outside wall). I reached down to pick it up and a smile came to my face. A letter. This was not a sales pitch or a bill but a genuine letter with the address handwritten for me. There is a possibility, a small squeak of excitement came out of my lips as I looked at the return address. Oh, I know who sent this! I was happy one of our supporting churches was thinking of me.
Wait. What? I began to question…why are they sending a letter now? It isn’t my birthday. It isn’t our anniversary. It isn’t Christmas. So why is it coming now in October?
My fingers slid across the small flap at the top of the letter, opening the envelope even before I walked through the front door. A set of three colorful flowers and two cute butterflies graced the outside of the card with the words on top reading “You are in our prayers.” Aww…this is a sweet sentiment. Opening the card, I saw two-dozen names written in all different directions around the center pink words “The LORD bless thee, and keep thee…Numbers 6:24” (KJV) Quickly scanning both side of the card, my heart filled with joy because this women’s Sunday School class has been diligently praying for me and blessing me for the past 28 years!
In the book of Numbers, God spoke through the priests to remind His people that they carry His name. Numbers 6:24-26 (NIV) reads: “24The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”
A priest would lift his hands and speak these words over the people before they left the worship service. Not because the priest wanted attention, but because he communicated how the Lord claims them as His own and wants to bless them.
Giggling to myself, I walked up the stairs to the office. Plopping myself down in the chair at the corner desk I realized my attitude had changed. Earlier I was frustrated and upset and now a smile was across my face and a bit of happiness in my heart. Encouraging words from someone thousands of miles away helped me with my attitude. The prayers from this Sunday School class sure have blessed me.
Wait. What? The words say, “Holly – our class is praying for you as you have surgery and as you recover.” Huh? Surgery? My mind jumped to the fact that my sister-in-law had knee surgery the week before and also a missionary supported by the same church. Oh no! Did they get us confused? This possibility actually made me laugh out loud. Pulling out my cell phone I took a picture knowing my sister-in-law would enjoy this crazy mix-up.
Upon inspection I found two ink stamps on the envelope. 12 Oct 2022 read the first. The second said 17 Oct 2022. I thought to myself, “wow this letter arrived quickly. No, hold on a minute, this isn’t right?!” Those were documented in Spanish, but where is the send date from the USA? Oh there it is at the top…18 Feb 2020.
Wait. What? Am I reading this correctly? Arrival: October 19, 2022. Sent: February 18, 2020. The letter traveled for a long two years and 8 months. Now all the pieces were falling into place.
Yes! I had surgery in February of 2020.
Yes! They sent the card to the right person in the right country.
Now I really began to laugh. The right letter for the right day.
Should you send a card using Numbers 6:24-26 to bless someone today?
Lean in…write a right encouragement soon.
Wow! What a crazy mail story and using it to encourage us to write a personal note to someone!😁
Very funny and meaningful. Our pastor spoke just a few days ago about how we should send a note right when we think of it!
That's hilarious! God must've known you not only needed the encouragement but also the laugh in 2022 more than you did in 2020! His timing is always perfect!