Letters of Love
Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; Cross‑examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I’m about;
See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong—then guide me on the road to eternal life. Psalm 139:23-24 MSG
Today marks what would have been my parents’ 80th wedding anniversary. They were married for 71 wonderful years and profoundly loved and encouraged every family member throughout those decades.
A few years ago, Jay and I discovered the love letters my parents wrote to one another—almost daily—from the time they met in 1944 until their wedding in 1945. As I read through them, I laughed, cried, and gained deeper insight into their relationship, their experiences, the times they lived in, and the steady growth of their love for one another.
Years ago, I picked up the habit of writing—almost daily—just as my parents did. But the words I wrote weren’t for my spouse; they were for me. Journaling became a way to express what was stirring inside me, thoughts and prayers I might never speak aloud. It became a sacred space to reflect with God on my relationships, circumstances, and the deeper layers of life.
Much like reading and reflecting on my parents’ love letters, I also revisit my own twenty-plus years of journals. I’m often astonished by what I find—how much I’ve forgotten, how clearly I see God’s hand in hindsight. Reading my journals helps me re‑member my story: to hear my heart, to see God’s faithfulness through both the valleys and the mountaintops. Each entry, no matter how small, has strengthened my faith.
If you’re like me, you may not even remember what you did yesterday. Journaling is not only a gift to my memory—it’s a gift to my spiritual life.
In her book Journaling as a Spiritual Practice, Helen Cepero compares journaling to panning for gold—a way to sift through life’s experiences to find the presence of God. It’s a practice of paying attention to our own reality—our joys, failures, dreams, and wounds. And truly, if you don’t take time to re-member God’s presence in your life... who will?
(Jay journals too—and agrees this daily practice is a powerful one for all people of faith.)
For Reflection
What is stirring in your experiences, heart, and thoughts?
When could you carve out time today to write and reflect on them?
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
Help me pause and re-member the gift of this day—the people who cross my path, the experiences and circumstances You bring. Teach me to carve out time to reflect and notice where You were present in it all. In Your Son’s name, Amen.
P.S. This photo is a combination of special moments in my parents’ lives. It was used as the cover of Love Letters—a book created by scanning each of their handwritten notes into one beautiful (and very large) volume. I gave a copy to each of my sisters!