Old Letter

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. - 1 Peter 1:3-5

As I thumbed through the old cookbook for a new recipe or two, the letter appeared nestled between the pages. Going to yard sales always promises a treasure or two, but touching a piece of history was not what I bargained for.

My friend Debbie proceeded to open the worn out piece of paper so that she could read aloud while I drove. Dark black print stamped the words of a women who sat at her typewriter over thirty-five years ago. The watermarked paper talked about the normal routine of her day. She was going to be mailing some pillows and mason jars. She talked about the kind of dog she wished she had, garbage collection, and wondered when she would be allowed to vote.

Wow.

I couldn't help but think about how his woman, who composed this message to her girlfriend all those years ago, never could have guessed that it would be picked up at a yard sale years later. While Debbie and I chuckled over the differences the past thirty or so years have made, there was also so much about us and her that were the same. Same kind of weather. Same kind of results when you are planting a tomato. Same kind of love between two friends.

The written word outlasts us all, truly able to make an impact on generation after generation. God wrote a letter too, many years back, to somebody He loves very much.

You.

We have much to learn from the Bible, a book filled with history, drama, suspense, sorrow and joy. But the best part about this letter is that it will never fade. After everything else has passed away, God's Word will remain.

It is a letter worth cherishing. If you haven't picked it up for a while, it is worth dusting off. Take a peek. Black and red letters dance on white pages, with a message of hope and redemption, for all generations to come.