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Earlier this year, I received a ‘Return to Sender’ letter. It was my Christmas letter posted to a friend in Victoria.
Joy and Robert * lived across the road from us many years ago. They didn’t have children of their own, and we didn’t have family near us, so we loved to include them in events where possible, like inviting them to our children’s birthday parties. They were practising Christians, going to a different church to us.
Later, they moved to a retirement village near the coast. Robert died there, and she married a widowed childhood friend who also lived in the village. When her second husband died, Joy moved to Victoria to be closer to her brother and sister-in-law.
Joy phoned me a few times over the years, to ask about the family, and to reminisce about the good times we had in our neighbourhood. When my Christmas letter came back, I wondered what had happened. I did an internet search, and found a link to her funeral service, recorded nine months earlier.
I was disappointed to have not known about it earlier, but of course her brother would not have known about us. I did meet him when he rode all the way from Victoria to Queensland on his motor bike, but he would not have known that we still had contact with Joy, nor that we still lived in the same place across the road.
Although we lost contact with Joy, God never loses contact with us. Although we may deliberately move away from Him, He is always ready to open His arms and welcome us back.
I think Joy may have been lonely in later years. She had lost two husbands, and had no children. Perhaps you are feeling lonely, a bit lost, and that you don’t quite fit in. Perhaps you cry out like the psalmist,
Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.
Psalm 25:16 (NIV)
My prayer is that, in all your affliction, all your pain, all your sorrow, you will be comforted by God.
Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me.
Psalm 27:10 (NIV)
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Psalm 23:4 (NIV)
Joy has gone to her maker. She has returned to sender.
*Not their real names.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
Are there people in your life who have drifted away, either by chance, or deliberately?
Is there someone who was once important to you?
Are there things you would like to say to them, while you still can?
Are there friendships and relationships which you should endeavour to rekindle, for mutual benefit?
OR
Or, are there people who have hurt you badly, and are still hurting you, even in their absence?
Is this something that you know you should lovingly bring to their attention?
Can you pray that God will show you a way to heal your memories?
I will give a plug here for Peacewise.org.au. Peacewise is a group dedicated to help people manage conflict, including old conflict, that is still hurting even though it’s hidden away.
They have a free app called Peacewise https://peacewise.org.au/get-the-peacewise-app/
I’d love to hear from you – please add a comment below.
God bless you this week.