 | There are a few things that people really value in their daily life, and one of them is certainly receiving letters. In spite of the vast electronic communication services available to us, most people still love to get letters in the mail. When you settle down to write a letter, and your mind comes up with a "blank," you might try creating a letter-writing journal, or notebook, in which you jot down ideas and memories as they come to you. These can later be referred to when writing letters. After you have answered a letter, stamp it with a whimsical rubber stamp and mark the date on which you sent an answer. This will prevent confusion later on if you happen to go through a pile of letters and can't recall if you answered.
One of the most thoughtful things you can do is create a care package for someone. There doesn't have to be a birthday or holiday or a reason other than to share something and make the day happier for that person. If you know a favorite color of the recipient, you can include unrelated items in the package with the favorite color theme. As for the items to be included in such a box, choose anything you think your friend would enjoy receiving, including toys. Even the most grown up ladies enjoy packages with dolls and stuffed animals, as much as any young friends. |
If you receive a thoughtful care package, be sure to comment on every single item in the box, as well as any wrappings. The sender has probably carefully chosen everything to the last detail and would appreciate knowing your reaction. It is just not enough to write "thank you for the package" and leave it at that. The sender will want to know if something fit you, or was useful to you, and so forth.
| Recently a woman went to the post office to get some special stamps to put on her personal letters. She was disappointed at such a poor choice. With all the artists there are or ever have been, it is a pity we cannot have better stamps at the post office. Roses are always popular, and hearts are always a hit, yet we are greeted with garish designs and mad colors that do not "go" with the envelope at all. When I see the 17th through 19th century paintings on this site, I marvel that the U.S. Post Office has not picked up on this current love of the exquisite paintings of the past. Until things improve, we must be content to choose the least offensive stamps we can to send our letters. To those of you who enjoy the opportunity of letter-writing activism, I would highly recommend that you contact the post office headquarters and send them some desirable pictures that they might include on their stamps. It may make it easier for them to accept this challenge if they are notified of copyright-free illustrations. It is possible that many people are tired of the movie stars and the modern artists depicted on the postage stamps when there is so much beautiful art to choose from. Such paintings, presented on a postage stamp, will expose people to real art and help them develop an appreciation for it. |
Letter Jean A. Franquelin You May Order This Art Print through AllPosters.com |
| If you want the receiver to value your letters, then write them in a special way so that they will be enjoyed over and over. I know of a lady who "recycles" her letters. She keeps them in a beautiful box and when she is not feeling well, discouraged or tired, she gets them out and reads them all again. For this reason, it is advisable to write some amusing things in your letters that will make someone laugh. Laughter is so very good for the heart and the health, and letters can be so beneficial in that respect. Your letters to others can be a wonderful ministry of encouragement. Sometimes people just need to be reminded of the value they are to you. Sometimes they need to read things that give them a lift, give them ideas, or give them something to think about. Asking questions is a sure way to get an answer to your letter.
If you get a bit behind in your correspondence, keep a supply of post cards to send as quick replies, acknowledging that you received their letter, and telling them you will answer at length, later on. Postcards can be purchased, depicting scenes of your local area, or you can cut your own from card stock, (available at most variety stores), rubber stamp them, emboss them, or put interesting stickers on them. Have you thought of sending a weekly Bible verse to someone via postcard? Just write it out on the area where the picture goes, using a calligraphy felt pen. Then on the other side, put their address and your return address. You never know how this will help another person. | 
Letter Box Rosalind Oesterle You May Order This Art Print At AllPosters.com |
Letter Mary Cassatt You May Order This Art Print At AllPosters.com | There may be times in your life when you feel you are not making a difference or being used for ministry. Consider a letter-writing ministry where you can influence others to live by a higher code. There are many young people who can be favorably influenced by letters. Just write some of the things you have learned in etiquette lessons or character studies into the letter. These will give the letter some meaning beyond chit-chat that will help the young person to have some purpose and direction in life and perhaps conform more to right living. Once in the past, a young girl received letters from another young girl, who made paper dolls clothes to share with her good taste in clothing. She made up stories to go with the handmade paper dolls,clothes, and accessories which she tucked into the letter. They caused no excess weight, so the postage was regular.
Post cards are a simple way of keeping in touch and do not require a lot of effort to send. How about placing the postage stamp on a stack of postcards, and keeping them with an address book in your handbag? Then when you find yourself having to wait in an office or lobby somewhere,, you can answer your mail. To make keeping addresses easier, just cut them off the envelope and glue them into your address book and saves time. Writing letters is a wonderful way to spend time in quietness. There alone in a room, with the clock ticking and the sound of the wind against the windows. you can gather your thoughts and concentrate fully on the person you are writing. It is like having a peaceful hour with a friend. Instead of it being a chore, you will that time of letter writing the thing you look forward to the most. If you can find a day of the week to devote to letter writing, then you can plan to get your pressing responsibilities out of the way so that you can afford to spend that day writing letters. |
| A writing desk is a wonderful place to write letters. This piece of furniture was extremely important to the people of the past. This desk can be painted to your taste, and decorated with a framed photo of a loved one, a basket for incoming letters, and a little stand for outgoing letters. You can also have a reading lamp, if there is room, and a place for pens, ink cartridges, stamps, stickers, rubber stamps and other letter writing tools. Placing your writing paper on a clipboard will secure the paper so that it will not move while you are writing. Pretty paperweights that match your desk decor also perform the same function.
Letters minister to the lonely, the shut-ins, and those that need some encouragement in their own walk in life. Some families read the letters they have received, aloud to one another. They provide a source of news to the home, that cannot be obtained through any other media. Consider writing to someone in the church you attend. It is possible that some people receive no letters and would appreciate an uplifting letter. |  Jane Austen's Desk |
For those of you who wish to find another person who loves to write, you may consider joining L.A.F.'s private message forum and sign up for a penpal in the penpal section who has similar values to your own and reflects many of the beliefs portrayed on this site. A wonderful gift to give in the mail would be a letter with a few postage stamps enclosed. Whatever you do, make an effort to stay in touch with those you love and to get to know others far and near through the letterwriting. What a blessing to know that someone is thinking of us and taking the time to put words on paper and send them our way! We can bless others with this simple gesture and find great enjoyment in the ministry of letters.
Still Life of Letter Racks-1 of 2
Edward Collier
You May Order This Art Print At AllPosters.com
