I walk to the mailbox. I open it up, hoping it isn’t empty. A stack awaits me – one sales magazine, three postcard advertisements, two credit card offers and one bill. Sigh. Wouldn’t it be nice to receive something besides junk mail and bills? My birthday was a few weeks ago, and I got some lovely cards in the mail. Waiting a year until the next birthday to receive fun mail seems far away.

Email, texting and regular phone calls connect us in wonderful ways, yet I miss the lost art of letter writing. Think about it – when is the last time you received a letter in the mail? When’s the last time you wrote a letter and mailed it?

I had the wonderful surprise of receiving a letter in the mail from my daughters, who were away at camp this week. It was so fun to read. My oldest included the list of food they had eaten so far. (I realized I often ask what she’s eaten whenever we aren’t together.) The brief note didn’t contain any serious, deep thoughts. It simply reminded me that my girls were thinking of me and wanted to include me in what was going on in their lives. I was just as excited to see that envelope in the mailbox, as I was to read the contents.

We probably all have people in our lives that we don’t see as often as we’d like. Why not brighten their day with a letter from us, reminding them that we still think of them? Plenty of people in our lives, who we see daily, could use a pick-me-up. Why not send them a cheerful card to let them know they are special?

I know the thrill of receiving a card or a letter. I often have good intentions of writing notes to others, but I’m not always good at following thru. I feel pressured to have something important to tell that person. Does someone else really want to know that work was slow today, how long I had to wait at the bank, or my debate on whether to start the dishwasher even though a few more dishes could fit in? My life isn’t always interesting. What could I possibly say in a letter?

Another excuse – I feel too busy to sit down and do it. I focus on the stuff staring me in the face; like the hungry children, the dog that needs a walk, the cat that wants a clean litter box, the husband, the co-worker, the boss, etc…Writing someone becomes low on my list of priorities.

Then, I remember the joy of finding a letter or card in the stack of mail. My heart swells. That person made my day. Those few minutes of writing a letter might make someone else’s day. It doesn’t matter if I’m not eloquent, don’t have time to write ten pages or have something amazing to share. It matters that I am investing in someone. I’m giving them a mailbox experience. Can you give someone a mailbox experience?