Melissa Fahy was remodeling her Westfield, New Jersey, home.
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
By Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour
"A Love Letter"
May 27, 2017
Psalm 19:7-10 - The Law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
Melissa Fahy was remodeling her Westfield, New Jersey, home.
As she did so, she came across a letter which had fallen into a gap in the stairs. The date on the unsent letter was May 1945. Having done a little research, Fahy found out the typewritten epistle had been written by a woman named Virginia to her husband, Rolf, a sailor in the Norwegian Navy.
Although the letter's contents don't say much about Virginia's appreciation of the First Commandment, it still reveals a loving, gentle relationship between a wife and her husband. In part, she wrote, "I love you Rolf, as I love the warm sun. That is what you are to my life, the sun about which everything else revolves for me."
Fahy decided she would do her best to deliver that letter to Rolf, or at least his descendants, if there were any. She shared the letter on Facebook and in a few hours that community of people had managed to find a connection. Rolf and Virginia's son was living in California. Through him Fahy found out the couple had been married well over 50 years and although Rolf was still alive, Virginia had passed away six years ago.
After more than 70 years, Rolf's son read that letter of love from his mother to his dad. After more than 70 years, the letter had reached its intended recipient.
That's an interesting story.
What really touched me is how Fahy thought that lost letter was so important she was compelled to make sure it reached its intended destination. Not only did she feel that way, her friends on Facebook were also glad to help her in that quest.
Then I started to ask -- do believers have that same sharing desire when it comes to making sure the Bible, God's "love-letter," also reaches the people for whom it was written? Truly, the story of God's promise of forgiveness and redemption to the lost, and His fulfillment of that promise in the Person of His Son, Jesus, is a letter of love.
It is a personal letter which ought not be put up on the shelf or stored away in a drawer. It is a letter of love which heeds to be delivered.
Getting that letter of God's love to the world is not a duty to be approached with reluctance and the dragging of the feet. It is a privilege, an opportunity, a chance for God's people to share the Lord's good news of great joy, which is for all the people.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, if a letter of love between people is a special thing, how much more special should be Your letter, which tells of humankind's redemption through the sacrifice of Your Son? May I do my best to share that story with its intended recipients. This I ask in Jesus' Name. Amen
Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
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