Here is a lost art in communication that needs a comeback to restore a touch of humanity to relationships.
Alas, the advent of the telephone in the late 1800’s, cheap long-distance services of today and the ever-growing internet have made writing notes and letters passé -a lost art. Does anyone still pick up the pen and compose thoughtful correspondence? Do they send pictures, poems, children’s artwork?
It may seem like this primitive lost art of communication in writing, sometimes called ‘snail-mail’, is dying out, but doesn’t everyone still yearn to receive something thoughtful in the mail for once besides bills and advertisements?
I found the poignant story that follows, and it sums up my thoughts today:
“My wife and I recently visited a local church where we met a remarkable lady who became a member there the very same year she and her husband were married, almost 70 years ago. Now a widow at age 90, she recollects being the only one remaining from the original church family since her Henry passed away last year. Most of us can only imagine the trauma of losing someone we’d been with that long.
“Still, it was obvious by the number of those who stopped to greet her that sunny Sunday morning that although Henry no longer accompanied her to worship, she certainly wasn’t alone. Her still-living love for him was evident in almost everything she said — second only to her love for the Lord she came to worship, serve and sing praises to that day.
“And serve him she did, by sending us, later that week, a handwritten letter that not only expressed her love and faith with a graciousness and candor not often seen today; it also moved my wife to tears, feeling in every welcoming word Henry’s absence and the articulated anticipation of their heavenly reunion.
“Oh, we’ve received those occasional phone calls and emails over the years as visitors to a new church; but who actually sits down and hand-writes love letters to strangers? Henry’s widow does; and apparently, quite often — seeking them out in the sanctuary each Sunday like an angel on a mission of mercy — politely acquiring a mailing address and then portioning out a generous piece of her own heart and soul with a thoughtful pen on a lovely card, so that visitors like us will never feel like strangers in her church again.
“Lord only knows how many have been blessed with her kind letters through the years; and I suspect she sent a lot more than she received. Being a lost art, it seems letter writing has given way to the abrupt and abbreviated chit-chat of cellphones, emails, texts and tweets that we call “communication.” But, it’s not the same. If you doubt that, just sit down and try to write something sincere and substantive to a stranger in longhand and then send it with a stamp. You’ll quickly realize the patience, discipline, compassion and commitment required for such a labor of love.
“And I say that typing this on an iPad while waiting for a new iPhone to arrive.
“Even so, most of the calls, emails, texts and tweets we exchange each day will soon be forgotten — buried beneath tomorrow’s business or simply deleted from our files into the black hole of cyberspace.
“But, Mrs. Horrell’s letter; well … I have it right here in the top drawer of my desk, ready to pull out and reread whenever I start feeling like a stranger.”
Lost Art Restored
Why should you take the time to write a heartfelt letter or note when you can put your thoughts into a few brief sentences (often incomplete and wrought with abbreviated language — Lol :>) <3 , and send it off into the ether of the internet?
Imagine, instead, putting down some thoughts from your heart or just a simple, sincere ‘Thank you!’ that they can hold in their hands and ponder. Restoring this lost art is undoubtedly an old-fashioned notion, but one which is more deeply treasured and remembered by the receiver.
And who knows, maybe they’ll write you back. Won’t you feel special then?
~~~~~~~~~
“Take pains … to write a neat round, plain hand, and you will find it a great convenience through life to write a small and compact hand as well as a fair and legible one.” ~Thomas Jefferson
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Thanks for reading!
ChristyH says
I think leaving the love note in a lunch box for the husband is also good. My dh has kept many and he leaves them for me. I also make notes for my children. I have a clothing drawer full wonderful cards I have received over the years.
Jacqueline says
Thank you, Christy!
That is a good reminder…I probably should have listed some ways, but alas, for time 🙂 We’ve had such a memorable time going through the letters of my parents after all these years. It has made us more grateful than ever to see how the Lord has been the foundation of our lives and how he has blessed the faithful family.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Deanna says
I have been thinking on this same subject recently. I have a letter to my mother in law composing in my head – now to sit down and write it out. I do love fine paper and an lovely pen, too.
Lesley Prentice says
My dear father-in-law has a debilitating illness and cannot talk on the phone anymore and lives 2000 miles away from us. He cannot email either as he cannot control his hands, so the only form of communication we have with him, is letter writing. My dd writes to her grandpop as often as possible, and it warms his heart. We also make it a point to write to others in our family, and receive them. I too still have hand written letters from my grandmother that I will still get out and read, and treasure. You are right, it is a lost art and I am glad you brought attention to it with your post 🙂
Melissa says
I love a good old fashioned real letter. I have only a few people who enjoy as much as I do with whom to exchange them. And lately I have gotten slack in keeping up. Homeschooling four kids now leaves me less time to write nice letters, and I often feel bad about that. Thank you for the lovely post, an encouragement to make the time to write!! I try also to take time and write, in a notebook, for each of my children. One day they will see, in my handwriting, many stories about themselves, the funny things they said and what their interests were while they were do young. Although I do use e-mail for a lot of my correspondence, there are some things that are just better in pen!
Kasey says
What a simple, yet incredibly thoughtful way to reach out to people…that dear, sweet lady hand writing notes to perfect strangers is beyond precious. I think she and the Apostle Paul would get along very well!! I don’t hand-write notes enough, but I really want to get back to it. Thank you for sharing such an inspiring post!!
Faith says
I really enjoyed this post!! (i found it via my friend Karen’s blog Sower’s Corner). I love writing letters and receiving them. I have 2 relatives with whom I write notes, cards because neither one of them care for the computer and I have always LOVED writing letters the old fashioned way. I even do this with my oldest daughter as she is away at a Christian college and I don’t want to just “text”. 🙂 It is truly a lost art form but there are those of us who are determined to keep it alive!! Thank you for posting that poignant story. I really like your blog and will be back!!
Jacqueline says
Thank you, Faith; you are always welcome here. Karen is a dear sister in the Lord~ I am glad to ‘meet’ you, new friend.
Kelly says
What an inspiration! Already this morning I was inspired by how one woman in our church welcomed people. And here, I am again inspired with how another woman welcomed people in her church! I’m so glad you shared this! It’s beautiful! I’m off to write a handwritten letter! Thanks you for sharing!
Jacqueline says
Kelly,
So you now have a ministry! May the Lord use you richly, my friend :] Thanks for sharing that neat story!
Phyllis Sather says
My mother-in-law was known for her hand made cards and hand written letters. She made her cards with dried flowers and many homes have them framed and hung because they were just too beautiful to discard.
From her bounty of friends you would never guess that she was almost housebound for the last 20 years of her life.
I was the blessed recipient of weekly letters from her – we wrote to each other on legal pads because we wrote so much and so often. As soon as one of us received the others letter we would answer the questions and send it off in the next mornings mail.
She keep all the letters I wrote her and Dan’s father gave them to me after she died. It’s like having a journal of those early marriage and parenting years.
She is still greatly missed by me.
Jacqueline says
Phyllis,
For years, I inwardly thought my mother silly for keeping all our letters and cards. Just last week, my mom gave us all of them, and many had references I made to things our children did as babies and little persons…they are precious reminders of how blessed a life we lived. I just gave them to our children according to what was written therein. I hope they can see further than I could as to the richness of life when lived as God intends and not discard them. Maybe someday they can share them with their children to prove they were little once, too.
marilyn Norfleet says
I have received thank you notes from “young men”, preachers and missionaries, who have stayed at our house. Blessed my socks off. I have been sending out more cards this year. A lost kindness, for sure.
Sarah-Anne says
I have always loved having pen friends ever since a little girl. Living in New Zealand, it’s lovely to have letters from people I get to know in a way that is time-honoured from places I am likely never to go to. And it’s an added blessing as a Christian, to develop sisters-in-Christ who have the same interests, and we can pray for each other. I have one pen friend at the moment, and I love writing to her and recieving letters back.
Petra says
I think it’s sad that in this age of technology, with texting and emailing (though they can be helpful), the beautiful art of letters is disappearing. I don’t know many people to write to, but those I know I try to send letters as frequently as possible. It takes more time and thought to write a letter, which adds to the value of it. A truly beautiful way to express thought and love…thank you for helping keep it alive! I pray your day is going well. Blessings, Jacqueline!
Pam says
I love this post… it reminds me of one I wrote myself recently on this topic – https://wordglow.wordpress.com/2012/09/19/youve-got-mail/
Email is a gift, being able to keep in quick touch, but what is more beautiful than someone taking time to write a lengthy letter by hand, or even just a card to send in the mail? Letters that someone can hold in their hands, re-read again and again are those the Lord can really use to even change a heart… Thanks for sharing this! We need to keep reminding others not to let this become a lost art. Recently I read that Hallmark is downsizing due to lack of letter writing these days… too sad.
Jacqueline says
I have also read about the P.O. also being under financial stress because of the decline in letters. I must confess that I have been using e-cards more and more to save time (I do want to encourage and bless)…so I need to heed my own lamentations, eh? Thank, Pam~ I will stop by and visit!
Cheryl @ Moms in Need of Mercy says
How fun to come across this! A few years ago, I read Edith Schaeffer’s The Hidden Art of Homemaking. She talks about letter writing. I wrote a post with her comments and my reflections about it, if you don’t mind me sharing it here. http://momsinneedofmercy.blogspot.com/2010/02/have-you-written-letter-lately.html
Need to write some thank you notes!
Jacqueline says
Thank you, Cheryl. I am glad to have you share it. I love that book by E.S. and must pick it up once again for inspiration. Thanks for the reminder and for stopping by~
Connie Smiley says
Thanks, Jacqueline, for this wonderful reminder. We all love getting a handwritten letter in the mail, and especially nowadays when it is so rare, but I think it means even more to many of the older generation, who aren’t “plugged in”. Hey, I think I’ll go write a letter.
Deb says
I’m so sorry that I’m late reading this wonderful post. I saw the link over on Karen’s blog and realized that I’m very far behind in my blog reading over here at Deep Roots!
I love writing letters and have done so for years. In fact, when i was working in an office 33 years ago, a young engineer came for an interview. I had access to his resume so dropped him a quick note afterwards telling him I appreciated his Christian witness and wished him the best in finding a job. I had no clue that he would write back–4 pages! We became pen pals states apart from each other.
Fast forward…we’ve been married 32 very happy years. Letters do mean something! 🙂
Marie says
My daughter made me a little cobbled-together scrap book many years ago. It was empty and I believe she intended me to use it as a journal. Well, it got lost in the bowels of my desk and recently I found it and decided to put it to good use: I save all the little sticky notes that my kids and husband leave for me: “Mom, I’m sorry that I forgot to tell you that I have an NHS meeting before school in the morning” or “I did this because I love you” stuck to my computer where I would find it first thing in the morning. It warms my heart to see their sentiments–and handwriting–for both the mundane and the important (more than a few “I’m sorry’s” in there) They aren’t letters, but they are physical representations that are more permanent than emails!
Jacqueline says
What a tangible and lovely way to save those little treasures, Marie! Your family will value them as a legacy of your love one day. I hope your example inspires others 🙂
Blessings!