We’re always encouraged to send cards and letters to those who are deployed. For my son, those written reminders from home meant a great deal.
But as his mother, I also received some much-needed encouragement from those who mailed cards and letters to me. I still have every one that I ever got. But one card in particular stands out in my mind.
The night before I received it had been rough. It had been almost two weeks since we’d heard from our son who was deployed in the Middle East. I’d awakened several times from nightmares and each one was worse than the last. Morning found me bleary-eyed, tearful and exhausted.
I’d spent the morning doing chores automatically and unable to get lunch past the lump in my throat. I’d settled for another cup of coffee and was staring out the front window when the postman deposited our mail. In hopes of a letter from our son, I raced to the mailbox.
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In it were the usual assortment of flyers, bills and one small greeting card—addressed to me. The pristine condition of the pink envelope proved it wasn’t from our son. But seeing that someone had been thinking of me lifted my spirits.
Inside was just a short note. A woman in our church who I didn’t know very well had sent it. She wanted me to know she was praying for our son, and that she was praying for my momma’s heart. She included this verse, printed neatly on a separate card:
“It will also come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear.” (Isaiah 65:24, NASB)
That was a turning point for me. Later that evening our son called and assured us he was fine. I taped that card to my bathroom mirror, and it brought me comfort and peace every time I saw it.
I learned a valuable lesson that day. We don’t know why God’s Spirit prompts us to reach out to others. But we can rest in the fact that we should follow His leading and leave the timing to Him.
