My grandmother met the love of her life when she was 16 but soon after he left Australia to fight in World War II. Grandma wrote to him every day, numbering each letter. She gave words of encouragement, stories from home and prayers for his safety.
Three years later, he returned to Australian soil and my grandparents were married in the years that followed.
My grandfather never shared with me the details of his experiences. As a young child, I couldn’t have possibly understood what he went through. But I wonder what impact those letters made to him.
Years on, my grandmother continued to write handwritten letters and I was blessed to be one of her many recipients.
Even though our worlds sometimes felt so far apart, her letters spoke love and wisdom and were a reminder that she was praying for me.
We may not be in the practice of writing handwritten notes these days and let’s face it, typing a text one handed while holding a baby is much more practical than putting pen to paper.
But whatever our method – whether it’s face-to-face or through the written word – our encouragement to others can make all the difference. We’re blessed to be a blessing.
Question
How can you lift someone else’s eyes towards Jesus today?
Prayer
Lord, help me to be a person who encourages the disheartened and is lovingly patient with those around me. I ask that you use me to bring your wisdom, strength, and help to others. Amen.