| "Letters of Love" by Vickey Pahnke Last week I received a sweet "Thank You" letter from a young man who has just received his mission call. We met several years ago at an Especially For Youth program where I was session director. The next year, I was once again his EFY session director. When he began his college experience at BYU this past fall, I happened to be a speaker for a leadership course he was taking. Once again, we had the chance to visit and enjoy each other's friendship. He promised that once he learned where his two year full-time service for the Lord would be, he would let me know. His note not only filled me in on some details, but included kind words of thanks for a thing or two I may have helped him understand. It was a letter of gratitude for shared experiences of the Spirit. This little "letter of love" means a great deal to me, because it lets me know that the work I do makes a difference. Knowing that we make a difference for "Good" is a wonderful feeling, isn't it? I pondered over how many unwritten "letters of love" I could have sent over the years~ to thoughtful and inspired teachers, in school and in the Church; to a neighbor for a kindness shown; to family members "just because." Expressing gratitude and love is always the right thing to do. Putting something in writing is a delightful way of brightening someone's day, and it will make us feel better as well. For years, when packing children's lunch for school, I have occasionally placed a note of love in with their sandwich. It may only be a "Have a good day!" or "I love you!" written on their napkin, but it makes me smile as I write it, and I hope it helps brighten their day. As an adult, I tried to write often to my parents to let them know how much I loved and appreciated them. Undoubtedly, there were not enough "love letters" written while I was growing up! President David O. McKay once taught, "Thankfulness is measured by the number of words; gratitude is measured by the nature of our actions." (Conference Report, October 1955, p. 4.) If we set a goal to write just two notes per week, can you imagine how much fun that would be? Regardless of our age or circumstance, there are many people who deserve a "thank you" from us. Oftentimes, the gratitude goes unexpressed. Perhaps we will focus a little more on nice things folks do for us, if we want to get those letters written! To follow the Savior's admonition, "As I have loved you, love one another," there are so many ways of learning how to better care for one another. By recognizing what others do for us, it is easier to count our blessings. Soon, we are more aware of so many good things that the Lord does for us ~ often through another person. Writing "letters of love" can be an exercise in learning to better express our gratitude and becoming a little more Christlike. It will mean a great deal to the one who receives that note from us. And in such a simple fashion, our world can become a kinder and more loving place to be! |