Week 22 - #Prepare “Letters”

“The Legacy of Letters"

Hebrews 13:22 -"But I urge you, brethren, bear with this word of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly."

Proverbs 18:4 - “A person's words can be life-giving water; words of true wisdom are as refreshing as a bubbling brook.”

Romans 15:15 -"But I have written very boldly to you on some points so as to remind you again, because of the grace that was given me from God,”

What in your life do you need to acknowledge?

I have his framed degree on the wall next to mine. I display his watch and college ring on my desk. I often wear the Cincinnati University Bearcat t-shirt I once gave him for Father’s Day. But the most prized possessions I have left from my dad, is the stack of handwritten letters he sent to me that I have kept, (I have them all) going all the way back to my college years; and even before.

Oh (self included) how the art of handwritten notes have been lost to emails, a quick text, tweets, Facebook posts or direct messages.

Often forgotten are the artifacts of ink to paper, cards, envelopes, and stamps!

Although most of us have fallen victim to our instant paths of connecting through various social media, and technology platforms, there is still nothing like holding a tangible piece of paper in your hands, with a hand written message by a very intentional sender.

So what hinders our letter writing to others even when, as a recipient, most know the joy it brings to us finding a letter in the mailbox with our name on it!

Can we not find the time to reciprocate the sender’s thoughtfulness? To acknowledge their intentional action. To convey our gratitude, love, encouragement or even sorrow depending on their current circumstances?

When was the last time you sat down to prepare to share your thoughts on paper and make someone’s day?

King Solomon the author of Proverbs 18:4 shared “A person's words can be life-giving water; words of true wisdom are as refreshing as a bubbling brook.”

In this world and in times like these I gain strength from the old letters my dad wrote me over the years. He may be gone but his words of encouragement and exhortation lives on.

DADs, not only speak the words (which are so valuable), but let us also regularly write down the words that are the life-giving water, full of wisdom and refreshing as a bubbling brook,” today. Words that outlive us leaving our legacy behind for the next generation to pass along.

To God be the glory!

DADs “get in the game”…Today is game day…and so is every day…God gives you! So…C’mon Men Suit Up!

**Today we prepared for the legacy of “letters.” Next week we will consider how to earn and prepare for “trust."

Note: *For this new year of 2021, the combination of my age (understanding my own fragile mortality), this current and ongoing global pandemic, and most recently the personal loss I’ve experienced of one of my students, has amplified the need to land on one word...#Prepare.

In this "pursuit to prepare" I am determined to dedicate the 52 weeks of 2021 blogging every Week about one aspect of preparation God lays on my heart.

As mentioned in week 1, the word “prepare” means “to establish, fix, or apply.” It conveys the idea of deliberate effort over a prolonged period of time.