Hey, Will! I did it!
Back in January, I helped lead a Christian Awakening Senior Retreat and, in a talk, Will mentioned how he once attempted to write 40 letters for the 40 days of Lent. I thought that idea was absolutely brilliant, and you guessed it, that was one of my Lenten commitments this season. If you’re reading this blog, then you know how much I love to write and so why not share this gift of writing with others and use it to pray for them?
40 days. 40 letters.
What did this do for me and others to prepare ourselves for Christ’s ultimate act of sacrificial love and His glorious resurrection?
I consider myself a very reflective person. A person who thinks a lot. A person who connects various events and people in her life that have helped shape her into the woman she is today. That’s me. And putting these thoughts into writing focused on a certain soul who is very special to me allowed me to pinpoint exactly how they have been Christ to me and how they inspire me to be the best version of myself daily.
And of course, this season of Lent found itself in a season of uncertainty – the very scary moment of history of the COVID-19 pandemic.
I was disappointed that I couldn’t personally deliver these letters to the people who were always around me, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t continue this Lenten practice from a socially safe distance. I truly thank God for technology!
Amidst all of the changes that came with a world turned upside down, there are some constants. That includes the amazing people in my life and the joy of letting others know how special they truly are. The simple act of writing a letter that included words of affirmation for the recipients proved to be so fruitful for them. My friends would often respond by letting me know that the words I gave them were exactly what they needed to be hopeful and encouraged during this time. And knowing that I played a small role in helping make life brighter for them gave me encouragement that I actually can be the light of Christ to others, just as the 40 people have been for me.
This Lenten journey was made reflective and fulfilling because I was able to share it with others. To the 40 people who received a letter from me, I can’t thank you enough for making this Lenten commitment so fruitful. And I thank you again for being in my life.
I hope that I might have inspired anyone reading this blog to remember to let your loved ones know that they are loved by you. Simple acts go a long way and words are powerful. Speak from your heart always and share your words with others. More than ever we must love one another. One of the recipients told me that she believes that part of this pandemic is God telling us to slow down. In a culture where people feel the need to be constantly moving or being productive towards something, it’s hard to pause and be present. I know it sounds weird, but because some of us now find ourselves with more free time, we might not know what to do with ourselves. But this extra time really could be used to be present with others, even while we are distant. I invite everyone reading this to join in a personal conversation with someone they love, whether that be through a text, phone call, FaceTime, or through any means. Believe it or not, but this can be an amazing time to grow in intentional and authentic friendship.
These letters served as an outlet for me to reach out to those I love dearly and to reconnect with others. I encourage you to make intentional connections with those closest to you. We need to remain steadfast in friendship and continue to shine God’s light on others. Keep those constant, and I’m sure that this uncertainty will bear fruit and help us grow in new ways. And remember that even though we may be physically apart, we can still reveal Christ to others.
Remember that as we now head into the Easter season. Although we are not able to embrace each other in joy and love the same way as before, we can still share that Easter joy with others. Jesus rose from the dead to give us more – more life, even after death. With trust in God’s plan, Jesus overcame death. By trusting in His plan, we can overcome this situation, and we don’t have to do it alone either. We will have more. More joy. More laughter. More love. But we will have to endure more loneliness. More distance. More sacrifice. But there will be more, and the best is yet to come.
Happy Easter! Alleluia, Christ is risen. Risen indeed, Alleluia!
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