Letters From Home
An ode to daily reminders of love
Growing up, whenever my brother and I went to camp, our parents left a special surprise in our duffel bags. At the end of the first day, I would open up my bag and find a stack of envelopes labeled Day One, Day Two, Day Three, and so on. I would open the first envelope to find two letters inside: one from Mom and one from Dad. Mom’s were elegantly written with eloquent language. Dad’s were simpler but so heartfelt.
In these letters, they told us how much they missed and loved us. They shared their hopes for our time at camp—that we connected with friends and leaders, experienced God’s love for us, and had so much fun! When I was homesick, these letters were deeply comforting. When I was doing great, they were a sweet reminder that my parents were thinking of me and praying for me.
Looking back, I realize how special it was that my parents took the time to write these letters so I would know how much they loved me. They didn’t just tell me one time, but each day of camp, I got this reminder.
As we seek to craft a life of love, I’m reminded of the power of these consistent, intentional acts of love. This could look like writing regular notes to your loved ones. Or it could mean performing the same small act of service each day for a family member. Maybe a friend is training for a marathon, and you text them every Monday morning to encourage them at the start of a new week.
This is not about perfection. But it is about telling—or showing—the people we care about how much we love them. Again and again.
A few years ago, my dad was preparing to go on a work trip. I thought it would be fun to continue this tradition, but this time, I would be writing the notes. I gathered up five cards, picked five Bible verses, and on each card, I wrote a reflection on the verse and an encouragement for him. When he found the letters, he was so touched. He even brought them with him on some future business trips!
When I was young, I was the recipient of this thoughtful act of love from my parents. As an adult, I found delight in being the giver. In both of these instances, I’m reminded that if we take a little time out of our day, we can make a big difference in the day of someone we love.
Want to receive more encouragement? Connect with me on Instagram!
Are you an incoming or current college student? Check out my other Substack publication, Letters From Your RA.
I recently discovered a service called “Buy Me a Coffee,” which allows readers to support creators. If this post encouraged you, you can show your appreciation by offering a small contribution!
Thank you for embodying letters of love every day and sharing your nuggets of encouragement with everyone around you!