Mom’s Last Letter and Lost Art of Letter Writing
Last night I was inspired to write a letter.
It was after I read an older book on my shelf, written back in 1971, The Hidden Art of Homemaking.
Yes, the book’s outdated a bit, but Mrs. Schaeffer’s love for “art” and the art found in the ordinary areas of everyday life, is inspiring. Edith Schaeffer’s writings have had a positive influence on Christian women, as she writes about how we all have hidden talents, unfulfilled talents, just waiting to be expressed and developed.
Which made me think of words … speaking and writing them.
I always had a love for words and writing, but I didn’t feel very skilled with them. When I discovered blogging, I learned to be creative with my words regarding hospitality.
I do love to share my heart with others when it comes to the subject of hospitality. I want to help others. Which, by the way, I always wonder if my mom really knew that my name means “Helper.” :)
One of the ways that we can help or encourage others in life is by the words that we choose to use. And we never know what our last words will be, either.
The other day I found the last letter that my mother wrote to me. I keep it in a safe place and read it often. My mom was an avid letter-writer, card-sender. That was her way of encouraging others.
Dear Little Coughlin Family,
I am getting homesick for all of you. Good thing I have pictures or does this make it worse?
She went to tell us what she and my dad were doing, how much things cost, the friends they were seeing, the places they were traveling to …
We miss all of you. Not sure when we will head home … Love, Mom and Dad
Today things are so different. We text, call, send pictures through email but we do little letter writing.
I’m thankful for the gift of my mom’s last letter. I love seeing her handwriting; it reminds me of when I was young. I love that she was homesick for our family. I love feeling her heart …
Writing is an art that I hate to say is diminishing quickly, especially writing letters. And paper notes can also reflect a hospitable spirit …
Do you think writing letters or cards is important, and when is the last time you practiced the art?
Hello and welcome to my home and table!
I’m Sandy—lover of food, family, cooking, THE BIG BOARD, travel, and bringing people together. Through great recipes and connection around the table, we become better, stronger, and more courageous people. Feasting on Life is real, and every time we do it, we grow a little more. Read more...
I am a devoted letter-writer and have been since I was a young teenager. There’s simply nothing like opening your mailbox and seeing the familiar handwriting of a friend or relative. My best friend, in fact, started out as a pen pal about seven years ago, and to this day we communicate mostly via letters, though we do text and email occasionally. I write to my 73-year-old Nana regularly, and in almost every letter she tells me how happy she is that I write to her. (Little does she know how much joy it gives me! Perhaps I should tell her in my next letter). In addition to letters, I enjoy writing out thank-you notes, birthday cards, thinking-of-you cards, etc. Receiving one can really brighten a person’s day.
I love REAL letters. Writing them. Receiving them. An email or text is better than nothing, but thoughtfully worded handwritten notes will always be appreciated, even by those that don’t take the time themselves. I practice writing them when I can, and am trying to encourage my children to do so as well, although it’s a tough sell!
Letters are so important, as they acquire even more meaning through time, but I don’t write nearly enough. Last year, when I was cleaning out my dad’s house after he moved into assisted living, I found the letters he had my mother had written while they were engaged and he had gone on ahead to a new job in another state, as well as ones that he had written during their marriage. I also found letters that he had written to his sister while he was in WWII.
How beautiful it is that you have your mom’s letter!
Note to self: use those stamps!
Oh this brings back memories of MY Mother. She was an avid letter, card writer as well. In fact she wrote to every President and got REPLIS, which she out in an album that I now have!!!! My daughter and SIL TEXT each other, even when they are in the same house!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don’t get it and have told her I think they will regret that one day. The art of conversation is important too!!!! I have saved little notes from my kids, friends and husband in a special box. Loved this post. XO, Pinky
I have always been a letter writer and have saved quite a few from family and friends. My mom cherishes my letters and I try to send her one every now and then. My most treasured letters are from my dad when he was in VietNam. Yes…letter writing is a lost art along with written thank you notes.
Ps. Love my mom’s handwriting too!
Sandy, loved this post. My mother was also an avid letter writer. She had the most incredible handwriting and worded things so eloquently. I love looking back at these letters and I, too, feel such comfort and reminders of my youth.
http://blogfork.blogspot.com/2009/04/perfect-handwriting-perfect-notes.html
I think I’ll write a letter to my girls today!
My mom passed away 6 years ago. She mostly called us or visited because she lived 8 miles away and attended same church. She wrote many letters to her mom and to other family. I did keep many of the blank cards and stationary she had on hand and have started using them. It does prompt me to write. I found many thank you, get well, and sympathy cards. It does show me what was a big part of her life.
I also found notebooks full of her letters, rather the first draft with revisions and crossed out areas.
Her big secret was she wrote out letters as time passed like a journal and used that to compose her letters to family. She might send out 3 or 4 different letters from same outline. She included what was going on and other news. Those outlines give me a glimps into her life and loves.
I find I have better results doing a first draft and “nice” copy from that.
Thanks for opening my memories.
rick s
When I was in college and even high school I was always writing letters, notes etc..But I never liked my writing so when e-mail happened I took advantage of that. My mom preferred to call but she also would write letters. When I was in Florida recently my Grandma pulled out a manila folder with pictures and even some cards and letters that we had written or that my mom had written her after we moved away.
So special Sandy…
I love sending (and receiving) “thinking of you” cards…though I don’t do it often anymore. My kids have 2 friends from preschool that just moved to Japan, I talked to them about becoming “pen pals” and this post has pushed me toward encouraging it!
I’m trying to send notes more often, and I even make handmade, handstamped notecards, which I’m attempting to sell for others to enjoy at http://www.whimsicalwords.us
But I’m notorious for not even sending birthday cards to my own family!