During a recent trip to Atlanta for the Festival of Homiletics, I had dinner with an old friend, the wife of a Navy pilot buddy of my husband’s. We are able to do this every few years and it is such joy. We spent 3 hours talking non-stop about the changes in our lives, so different from the early days of careers and raising children and changing squadrons. Now we talk of retirement and grandchildren and the surprises our bodies bring! A few days after returning home, I had a thank-you note from her, which brought back all the joy of our time together. To read her note was to hear her voice again and to know that we are still connected, after all these years.
But it caused me to think about writing such notes, about how it seems to have fallen out of favor, replaced by the email or text, messages too short and in type, messages that just don’t carry the same meaning as a note in a dearly-loved, familiar handwriting. Reminded me of how good it was to find a letter from my husband when he was deployed or a letter from my mother when we lived far away from them. Reading such a note, I could see them, sitting at a grey metal desk on the ship or sitting on the sofa at home, pen in hand, spending time with me in thought and spirit. I could see them and feel loved, cared for, remembered.
I used to keep a journal in which I wrote down every day, one thing I was thankful for, as a way of writing a thank-you note to God. I wonder why I stopped?
Posted by evanlaar1922 on May 22, 2012 at 4:14 pm
did you ever hit home with this – ouch!
Posted by James Clary on May 24, 2012 at 7:49 pm
One of the major things that we can do to improve our lives, both in the quality of life and in the happiness in our life is to keep track that for which we are thankful. I think it is even more important to write this down as there is a keen difference in how our brain works when we are writing versus when we merely talk or think (our brain works to develop a narrative when we write, as opposed to the free association that follows from talking).
I think that providing a place and time to be thankful is one of the fundamental roles of celebrating the Sabbath at church.
Posted by pattidavis on May 25, 2012 at 3:05 pm
Thanks for your thoughtful response. It is indeed one of the joys of worship to be able to recognize and give thanks. And as well as reorienting us to what is truly important, I do believe it pleases God!