It's a breezy, bitterly-crisp December morning. As you walk to your mailbox the wind takes your breath away. Your nose starts to run incessantly, even though you've been outside less than ten seconds already. You hurriedly-scramble to find the mail key in your thick winter coat pocket and proceed to quickly retrieve your mail. Slamming the mailbox shut with a flurry you slowly run back to the warmth of your home, hoping you didn't drop any mail along the way.
The warmth of your house is felt immediately. The Christmas tree towers to your right beaming in all its brightness. Reminding you of the memories made around it's branches in the very room just days earlier. Slowly but surely you can feel your fingers again. You take your winter coat off, hang it in the front closet and drop your mail on the kitchen counter.
The teapot on the stove sings it's high-pitched tune, as if to say "Your tea is ready. Your tea is ready." You quickly retrieve it, not wanting to wake the children. They are still nestled snuggly in their beds, while you are enjoying some much needed quiet time and rest. The holidays in all their bustling, bubbling splendor can whisk you away excitement-filled-expectations if you let it, so your remind yourself often to pause, breathe and just be with Jesus.
As you leave the kitchen, hot tea in hand, something on the counter catches your eye. It's an envelope in the stack of mail that has your name on it, but no return address. In fact the only thing written on the envelop is your name. There is no address on it at all, not even yours.
"That's odd," you say quietly to yourself as you pick it up and make your way to the living room. The fireplace crackles as if to welcome you into it's sphere of warmth. The holidays have come and gone, but just maybe this is Christmas gift arrived late. Your curiosity gets the better of you as you take the envelope in hand and find a cozy spot of your sofa.
As you open it's contents, the impossible blossoms. It can't be. There is no way this could ever be possible. It must be a joke, you reason—but it isn't. It's a Christmas gift worth far greater than any physical gift you've received this year.
A tear streams down your right cheek as your read the first line ...
Dear Beautiful, Sweet, Precious, Uniquely-Created, Anointed One, My daughter, My love,
This is just a letter from your Heavenly Dad. I want you to know how much I love you. How proud I am of you. You are chosen for this time, this place, this people, this moment in history—in MY story ... From the beginning of time.
I know you have many questions, and rest assured I have EVERY answer. Some I will reveal, and others you don't need to know, you just need to trust ME in this.
I want you to know that I've heard your prayers. In those moments of extreme weakness and frailty, I was right there helping and sustaining you. I want you to know that there's nothing wrong with you or the way I've created you and that you aren't alone. I have perfectly formed you just the way I want you - and all those things, those unknowns in the future, you don't have to fear.
My plan is so good. I wish I could pull back the veil and show you it all, but it would blow your mind. You'd say NO WAY, it can't be - which is why I'm just revealing one step at a time. Just be obedient with the one step today and tomorrow and as you trust ME, please promise Me that you'll enjoy every moment. Don't jump ahead, don't live in the past and don't carry burdens that are Mine to bear.
Your future is marked with healing and wholeness, strength and courage, joy and peace and hope and EVERYTHING that I've already put inside you that makes your heart leap, I promise. Every set back has been a set up, fully intentional on My part. Every failure, or perceived failure on your part, I've already seen and known from the beginning and woven into your plan for your good and the good of others - a set up for My Name to get glory.
I love you deeply daughter. I can't wait to hold you in person—until then, look for Me in your everyday."
- God
The letter in hand is now soaked with salty tears. How this letter reached you at this exact season is unfathomable. How it strategically addressed secret things you've only discussed with God Himself in the privacy of your own home, unimaginable.
May this letter from your Heavenly Father be a precious gift to you this post-Holiday season. Know that you are loved, valued, cherished and that God is working all things together for your good.
I found this letter in an old photo album this past week. It was something that I wrote to myself years ago as if God were writing directly to me. I copied it here, in it's entirety, leaving nothing undone and placed you fully in it's story in hopes to breathe hope into your sails of faith for this year to come.
I may not know you personally, but I do know that the God of Angel Armies is fighting on your behalf and working behind the scenes for your good.
"May you be gifted with His Words of life as you enter into this new year."
Photo Credit: Angela Roma
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