A Message In An Envelope

 

Yesterday I received a message in an envelope.

 

I know that doesn’t seem like an earth shattering statement.

 

Thousands of people probably opened their mailbox yesterday and received a message in an envelope. 

 

Maybe you were one of them.

 

My envelope and message, however, were sent from heaven.

 

I know.

 

I have gone from making a statement that wasn’t earth shattering to making one that is heaven shaped. 

 

Let me explain.

 

Life has thrown one curveball after another at our family recently.

 

Mostly financial.

 

Mostly vehicle related.

 

We keep swinging and missing.

 

It’s been overwhelming.

 

We prayed and it was like heaven was silent.

 

I have had doubts.

 

Not in God.

 

In myself.

 

As a husband.

 

A daddy.

 

A provider.

 

“The fact that Satan is working against you just means you are doing something right,” others said.

 

“Or maybe you have done something wrong,” I said to myself.

 

I have been hearing that voice a lot.

 

My voice of condemnation and failure.

 

Yet I never stopped using my voice to cry out to the Lord.

 

Help.

 

Help me.

 

Help us.

 

Then the message in the envelope arrived.

 

A man came to the church I pastor. 

 

He isn’t a member.

 

I had met him a few years ago in passing.

 

“May I have a few seconds of your time,” he asked.

 

“Of course,” I said as we walked the few steps down the hall to my office. 

 

Once inside he handed me a bank envelope and said, “the Lord told me to give this to you.”

 

“To me,” I questioned.

 

“Yes,” to you he said matter-of-factly. “Not to the church but to you.”

 

I started crying.

 

I gave him a hug and simply said, “we have been going through a rough time.”

 

He stated once again that his presence there was simply an act of obedience  and that the Lord had blessed him.

 

He then asked, “what does this mean to you?”

 

It’s a reminder God’s got me,” I said. “He knows what we’re going through.”

 

I thanked him for being used by the Lord and he left.

 

He left me with a message in an envelope.

 

A reminder.

 

A reminder that came to me again in a text message as I was writing this. 

 

“You’ve been carrying so much. You’re doing your best and you’re doing it all while trying to take care of those you love. Here is a little reminder that you are being carried through what you are having to carry. You have a Father that sees your dedication and takes not of your effort. Keep going. You are loved.”

 

Heaven is listening.

 

The Lord is working to provide.

 

Yesterday heaven touched earth.

 

I received a message in an envelope.

 

Good Neighbors

I have good neighbors.

They are the kind of neighbors that let you borrow tools and ladders.

The kind of neighbors that cut down your tree and haul it off.

The kind of neighbors that mow your front yard all summer long. 

The kind of neighbors that watch your house when you’re gone.

The kind of neighbors that let your kids play in their yard.

Teach them sports.

Take them to Sonic and Andy’s Frozen Custard.

Come to their ball games.

Good neighbors.

That’s what I have.

Neighbors that are heartbroken when they hear you had to put your dog down.

The kind of neighbors that bring you Baskin Robbins ice cream with tears in their eyes so that you can celebrate your dog’s life as a family.

That the kind of neighbors I have.

Good neighbors.

Jennifer Pahlka wrote, “When one neighbor helps another, we strengthen our communities.”

If my neighbors are any indication of the kind of neighbors that live in my community then I can say with confidence that my community is strong.

My neighbors help one another.

God has blessed me.

I have good neighbors.

© Travis L. Edwards