Pass It On

Pass It On

Here is my greeting in my own handwriting—Paul.

1 Corinthians 16:21

There is nothing like an unexpected letter or package to bring internal sunshine to a long, dreary day. My Amish friend Irene remembers her excitement as a young girl running home from the mailbox with a large manila envelope addressed to her: a circle letter had arrived!

A circle letter is a letter chain sent among family members or friends. Irene was part of a circle made of girls with her same first name and born the same year. With each envelope that arrived there was a letter from all the other members, including Irene’s previous letter. After Irene read the letters of the other participants, she’d pull out her old letter, replace it with a new one, and then send the package to the next young woman on the list. The circle letter would be sent to each person, each adding a new letter and continuing the conversation. Through letters like these, friends and family members talked about issues important to them, shared current events, and confessed dreams for the future.

When Irene told me about the circle letters, I imagined the excitement that letters from Paul, Peter, and other apostles brought when they arrived at new churches. But instead of adding their own words to the revered apostles’ letters, the churches studied them, rejoiced over them, and then passed them on.

I’m amazed at how God uses letters and personal experiences to build His body. More than once God has whispered instruction or encouragement to me through a friend’s words.

What has God done for you lately? Pass that on to another. What messages has He spoken to your heart? Record and share them. Do you remember the last time you sent someone a handwritten note? Take a moment to write one and send it today. You never know when the words of news or encouragement you offer another person will come back around to you.

Dear heavenly Father, thank You for writing a love letter to me through Your holy Word. May Your words of hope flow through me and bless others today. Amen.