Uncovering History with an Address Book: The C’s

Read on to see what I see in the C’s.

I am going through an OLD hard-backed address book. I am writing letters and praying for these people from my past.  Some folks are also part of my present.

Last Wednesday’s post was all about the B’s. Next week I will share what I uncover in the D’s. To find the landing page with all the posts, go here. It is after the jump at the bottom of the page.

Writing to the C’s

ONE. What I’ve most enjoyed in this letter, the C’s, is praying for the folks and businesses listed. I’ve felt a sense of connection. I know that my prayers are the most effective and important thing I can do especially when I don’t know what’s currently happening in their lives.

It was also exciting. It was exciting to hear where my prayers went for each person/family/business. I knew that the Holy Spirit guided my prayers. And I could sense that my prayers joined the many, many, many other prayers for these same individuals/businesses. And I knew that even if if I prayed only this one last time, that my prayers were part of something important. Something big. Something eternal.

ACTION ITEM: I want to be more diligent about praying for the wide range of folks and businesses in my life. After I finish with my address book adventures, I will ponder what this means.

TWO. Writing letters is hard work. Perhaps because while I know the feeling I want to convey (gratitude), I am at a loss as to HOW to do that in an eloquent way. I wonder if that is why I am not historically good at sending the cards and letters I’ve finished. I am good at buying them and writing them. But for some reason I am not good at sending them. Could it be because I feel inadequate?

ACTION ITEM: Just send the letters and cards. Stop over-analysing their quality. I made a deal with myself; if I wrote it, I have to send it within 24 hours. Finish the job and move on. And limit the amount of time I spend writing, 15 minutes is usually sufficient.

I tell myself that it is okay to make mediocre arts &  crafts. After all it isn’t archival art. I want to apply the same principle to letter writing. They aren’t masterpieces going to auction.

THREE. Some folks would rather have a visit than a card. I’ve heard back from some people I’ve written to. And while they were happy to receive a card, they would have been happier to receive a visit. This was not conveyed in a snarky way.

If my intent is to bless folks, then I want to be open to expressing that gratitude in a way that most impacts them. In other words, if I know their love language, use it. The five are as follows: acts of service (devotion),, gift giving, physical touch, quality time, and words of affirmation..

ACTION ITEM: Take the extra time to figure out how to best bless folks in my life. And then do it.

FOUR. I’ve been impacted, deeply, by people and businesses each place I’ve lived, mostly in a good way. I am who I am because of these experiences. I want to stay open and mindful of these experiences.

ACTION ITEM: I want to express my gratitude (and pray for them) in an ongoing way instead of waiting years. And if the impact has been a negative, I want to deal with that in a timely manner, also, instead of waiting years. And that expression doesn’t have to be a full-blown letter. It can be a specific compliment right after the deed or a sentence that says “Ouch! That hurt.”

FIVE: I have a lot of memories connected to each person and place. Unfortunately I have also forgotten a lot of memories associated with the same. And some of that information could be transformative (to me and others).

How much personal history is passed down from your ancestors and forward to your progeny? Is this even important? If you are a writer or the family genealogist, you probably would agree it is important.

ACTION ITEM: I do agree. But what exactly is the best way to do that? After I finish this project I will look in this.

• I know one person who scrapbooks the important history of her family.
• I know of a gentleman who is writing the history of his family members by using family and official documents.
• Until I take up such ambitious projects. I will continue blogging. This is one reason I have a blog, to share my life. Maybe some future progeny will understand themselves better because of reading something at Fruitful Words.

I wrote 7 letters. And I prayed for 3 businesses (my lawyer in CO, Christian Booksellers Association and CO Homeschoolers)  and 11 people (or the families of the ones who are deceased).

Your Turn . . . What history have you uncovered in the C’s of your address book? . . . Are any of my action items applicable to you?

Related Posts . . . 

• Do You Have a Highlight in Your Life? This is about my time in England.
• Figuring Out the Real Meaning of Humane Society. This is something my daughter learned in CO.
• Rolls and Buns: A Communication Mishap