I’d had a rough day. Actually, it had been a rough year.
After picking up my two-year-old from preschool, I drove into our driveway and stopped at the mailbox. I pulled out a few bills, some junk, and a small envelope addressed by hand—my sister’s hand. I recognized the handwriting.
Unbuckling my daughter, I gathered all our stuff, took her hand, and led her inside our house. I dumped everything on the kitchen island, got her settled in the family room with a book, scratched my dogs behind the ears, and walked back to the kitchen.
Shoving the bills aside, I picked up the envelope from my sister, opened it, and pulled out a small notecard. Inside the card was the outline of a tiny little hand—my 17-month-old niece’s hand. On it was written, “My dearest LeAnne.”
My eyes began to fill with tears as I read what my sister had written underneath. It was a reference from the Bible, Isaiah 49:15-16: “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.”
I burst into tears. The verses reminded me that God loved me even more than a mother’s love for her child. He had not forgotten me, even in this hard time, and I was very precious to him.
In addition to those powerful words, the card itself with the little handprint was a gift—a special keepsake.
Because of my sister's thoughtfulness, I felt like I'd been wrapped in a hug that touched me to the core, which was exactly what I needed at that moment. I can still feel it now, every time I open that beauty-filled card.
Have you ever been encouraged by a card or letter or the written word? I’d love to know. Leave me a comment below or on social media.
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