“Mom, can people talk through letters even if they don’t know each other well?” my daughter asked me one day. The next morning, I saw her slipping something into her backpack. When I asked, she just smiled and said it was for a school project. I couldn’t take it anymore. She was SO protective of the mailbox, calling it “a secret,” which really freaked me out. I pretended to let it go and told her to head to school. After she left, I opened the mailbox and TEARS STARTED STREAMING DOWN MY FACE as I saw a pack of letters from…
Lily is my world. She and I have been very close ever since her dad’s passing, and I don’t there is anything stronger than our mother-daughter bond. Recently, however, Lily asked me to give her the key to our mailbox and that became a pattern. Her interest in the mailbox made me curious, so I finally decided to check the mail myself. What I discovered filled my heart with warmth.
“Mom, can someone become friends with a person they don’t know well through letters?” Lily asked me one day. “Of course, baby,” I answered, unaware of her plan.
“People can form beautiful connections through letters,” I said.
She looked at me with her big blue eyes and smiled at me.
The following day, she asked me if she could check the mail. She was excited and I said yes and handed her the key.
The same thing happened the following day, and it continue for a few days.
I thought it was strange that my 10-year-old daughter suddenly became so interested in the mailbox.
But I didn’t say anything. However, Lily’s behavior also changed. She became more secretive and as though she was hiding something from me.
One day, I saw he putting something in her school bag, and when I asked what it was, she said it was nothing important, just a school project.
I was really interested to learn what was going on without invading Lily’s privacy.
After giving it some thought, I asked her to tell me what was with the mailbox and if I could check it myself. She said it was nothing big and asked me to promise not to open the mailbox.
But my concern grew bigger and I broke the promise.
Just before Lily returned home from school, I opened the mailbox. Inside were letters addressed to Mrs. Thompson, our mail-lady.
It turned out that Mrs. Thompson lost her daughter and Lily learned that. She felt sorry and decided to write to her and leave the letter in the mailbox for Mrs. Thompson to find.
In one of the letters, Lily wrote about school, and the cookies we made together, adding that she wished she could share some with her.
There was also a letter from Mrs. Thompson in which she wrote that Lily’s letters brought her joy following her daughter’s sudden passing.
That evening, I asked Lily to tell me who she was sending letters to. She hesitated at first, but then she told me about Mrs. Thompson. I pretended I had never heard of her before.
Looking at Lily, I felt extremely proud of her. Although she was just ten, she was kind and compassionate. Tears of joy rolled down my eyes when I witnessed with how much love she spoke of her newly-made friend.
The following week, we invited Mrs. Thompson over. Lily made cookies all by herself.
The sweet lady was very thankful. She said that after her daughter passed away, she felt extremely lonely, but Lily’s words brought encouragement.
From that day on, Mrs. Thompson was our guest every week.