I was writing a card to a friend this afternoon when I got to thinking about some of my favorite notes. 

My all time favorite thank you note was from our niece. She was very young when she wrote to thank us for a birthday check. “Dear Uncle John and Aunt Jill, Thank you for the money. I really needed it! Love, (our niece)”. I called my sister and kidded her – are you not feeding this kid and she needs cash? But, to be honest, it was a perfect note. It said thank you, it was specific and it was personal. The kiddo was saving up to buy something and our check helped her toward that goal. Adorable. 

I have two favorite postcards that I have received. The first one began this way, “Dear Jill, Let me get right to the point – I need cash. Don’t tell the parents.” The card went on to explain why and to give specifics on how much to send where to send it. Being a loving and, it happens cash rich at-that-time, friend, I doubled the amount and got the money into the mail. 

My other favorite postcard came from my older brother. I had just hit a huge deer with my not-so-huge pinto – the deer won. A postcard came from him about a week later. It read something like, “Dear Jill, Do you know where my mommy is? Love, Bambi” What a loving brother!!

One of the best things about postcards is that we like to imagine that everyone in the postal system reads ours. It was the postman who delivers mail to my parents who was the real target of my favorite postcard I have sent. The card read, “Dear Mom and Dad, I’ll be gone for a few days. Two sailors and a Marine and I are headed to New Orleans for the week in a van. Will call when I get back home. Love, Jill”. Mom said that the mailman smiled when he handed her the mail that day and she quickly explained that I was on an inspection trip on official business. Loved trying to scandalize my folks and the postman!

Why not take a moment and write a note? It can be short and sweet. It can ask for help. It can share a joke. But, it will be appreciated and maybe even treasured.

Go ahead, try it! A silly note might be just the thing to start thawing that ice burg.

Love,

Jill (just one of God’s kids)

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“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)