Letters

Moving home has accelerated my habit of clearing through my things. My latest project is sorting through shoeboxes of cards and letters. I do this about every other year. This afternoon as I was sorting, I wandered off and starting thinking on a subject that has been a trial for some weeks. Doubt and sadness started to cloud my thinking. With the premise that busyness would be an antidote, I returned to sorting, and the first card I picked up was a birthday card from 2002 in which an elderly lady who used to attend our church had written:

Stir up the gift of God that is in you --
For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. ...not according to our works but according to His own purpose and grace --
Hold fast His sound words in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
That good thing which was committed unto you keep by the Holy Spirit which dwells in us.
2 Tim. 1:6,7,9,13 and 14

Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 3:18
(Not only a head knowledge...but a heart knowledge, through direct experience. Joni Erickson Tada)

This is what I needed to read to change my mindset. God is so faithful! I am humbled when He answers my prayers to remind me of truth and encourage me in what He is saying.

Also, I found these two gems amongst many delightful missives. In addition to being complimentary, I enjoy how they demonstrate my siblings' personalities. They were received my first quarter away at Cal Poly.

K iding is fun w/her, yet sometimes she's...
A stonishing in her strange ways
T hough she can be very nice and
I nteresting to talk to! :-) She is
E xuberant!

Beth, age 13 (9/2005)

K ind and thoughtful girl
A loving and enjoyable friend
T enacious like her brother
I ncredible student and straight A whiz
E xcelling among the best of the best

Jeremy, age 10 (11/2005)

Jeremy's letter continues:

Dear Katie,

I love you and am sorry I haven't written you because, for real!, I've been actually busy! I can't write that well because I lost some of my fingernail, but will not go into that. I'm starting basketball in December and hope to play baseball later. Taking care of Shrimp has been fun. I need to buy her some turkey! Mom brought home my report card and I go straight A's. Except one A- in work study habits for talking. I was tenacious to Mom and said I have to help people and talk to them. You wouldn't believe the cries for help! "Jeremy, get over here," every second, espescially a girl named Kathryn, close to your name. Alan and I hang out a lot, however I'm starting to play with the younger class a lot! Ooops! That was horrible, two a lots! Anyway, I'm emerging as a leader at Santa Clara and am humbling myself at home. I hope you are doing well! The funniest thing happened today, I dropped all the spaghetti trash from school and Alan and I had to pick it up. I will go into further details later. After recess, when all of the younger class is lined up, some boys and girls all do different secret handshakes with me. Life is good!

Love,
=-) Jeremy =-)

P.S. Have you seen the new Brain Jacquest book High Rhulain? Karen lent it to me for awhile!