Friday, July 10, 2009

Letters from a Lover

Ann turned on the lamp on her nightstand and turned off the overhead light so that she could enjoy the soft light of the lamp. She drew her covers over her knees and looked at her journal, which lay near the edge of the nightstand. She picked it up and flipped open to some blank pages in the back. From in between the two pages she pulled a folded sheet of paper. It was a wrinkled paper, blotted in a couple places from water drops, and obviously handled frequently. With a smile, she opened it and read it... for at least the hundredth time.



It was a letter from her "dearie", with a poem of his own writing at the end. It was months old now, but oh! the delight in reading it again and again. Just to read his words, and know he meant them. Just to see the spirit of Christ radiating off that page and through that bit of rhyme at the end. Ann was certain of his love for her, and though there was nothing knew in the letter since last time she read it (just last night), it was just a delight to read it again and be reminded of the loving, steadfast character of the man she had come to love. She knew it would be a while before he could afford to marry her, but this letter was almost like a guarantee until that time came. She knew she could trust her whole heart to him.



~*~*~*~*~


I turned on the lamp on my nightstand and turned off the overhead light so that I could enjoy the soft light of the lamp. I drew the covers over my knees and looked at the red-bound book laying on the edge of my nightstand. I picked it up and flipped to a page over half-way through. Small letters, some in red ink, some in black, filled two columns. With a smile, I read it for at least the hundredth time.


It was a letter from my lover. I had read it so many times, but oh! the delight of just reading it again and again. Just to read His words and know that He meant them. Just to read of His professions of His love for me, to see beautiful manifestations of His beautiful character, to be reminded of all the wonderful things He had done for me. I was certain of His love for me, and though there was nothing new in the letter than had been there last time I read it (last month), it was just a delight to read it again and be reminded of the loving, steadfast character I had come to love. I knew that it was not yet the time for Him to come and take me home with Him, but that letter was a guarantee until that time came. I knew I could trust my whole heart to Him.




Here are some bits and pieces from that letter:


"Dear Melanie,


"Before Abraham was, I am."


"I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believeth thou this?"


"In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."


"Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also."


"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."


I sighed happily and put the book back on the nightstand. I had sweet thoughts to fall asleep on that night, as well as the anticipation of reading it again the next morning.

4 comments:

juli said...

Great parallel Melanie!

Love Juli

Teddy said...

Oh my goodness! That is so good!

Amanda said...

Wow! That really puts God's Word into perspective.

Margaret Dashwood said...

REally good Melanie!

Bea