The Letters

When I was a junior in high school my face broke.
It was something called Bell's palsy 

(some sort of partial paralysis.)
This illness came on so sudden, the school play I was in had to be
canceled that night...
There I was at home devastated with my life long best friend at my side.
Then they came.. The Letters.
Although I wasn't at the school, my fellow friends and cast members were.
They all wrote me encouraging letters of love and support.
My friend read them to me and I cried.
I was hurt, yet the love I felt that night was overwhelming.
Fast forward a few years and I found myself going through a different
kind of pain.
I was at home, hurt, and The Letters came.
This time from a group of sweet young women.
I felt their love and I cried.
Again I wasn't alone.
Fast forward a few MORE years.
I'm a missionary feeling pain, grief, and loss again.
Although not as prominent as my first two experiences, my hurt felt
just as real.
And then they came.
All bundled together so I couldn't mistake it... The Letters.
This time from my home congregation in Texas.
As I read of their love, condolences, and support, I cried.
I know these three tender moments were not by chance.
I know these Letters might as well have been written by God himself
with the amount of love, reassurance, and consistency they bring me.
I know I am His daughter.
I know he is aware of not only me, but all my grief and pain in
whatever form it may be.
One way I know this is through His Letters.
God sends us letters every day.
Do we recognize his handwriting?

"Everyone’s situation is different, and the details of each life are
unique. Nevertheless, I have learned that there is something that
would take away the bitterness that may come into our lives. There is
one thing we can do to make life sweeter, more joyful, even glorious.

We can be grateful!

It might sound contrary to the wisdom of the world to suggest that one
who is burdened with sorrow should give thanks to God. But those who
set aside the bottle of bitterness and lift instead the goblet of
gratitude can find a purifying drink of healing, peace, and
understanding....

.....We sometimes think that being grateful is what we do after our
problems are solved, but how terribly shortsighted that is. How much
of life do we miss by waiting to see the rainbow before thanking God
that there is rain?

Being grateful in times of distress does not mean that we are pleased
with our circumstances. It does mean that through the eyes of faith we
look beyond our present-day challenges.

This is not a gratitude of the lips but of the soul. It is a gratitude
that heals the heart and expands the mind."

-Dieter F. Uchtdorf
 (Grateful in Any Circumstances)