Caring Connections

For the first time in a few years I opened up a box of old cards. Caring Connections in the form of handwritten postcards from long ago. In a small bag there is a stack of postcards I have managed to save over the years. Perhaps because they didn’t take much space, or they were so old and I didn’t want to just toss them, or that they had been sent to my Grandmother and contained some facts about her I did not know. Nostalgic, but more than that, they tell a story of a Caring Connection.

From these tattered, fading cards from the early 1900s I learn a bit about the time my Grandmother lived, how she was sick in 1909 and survived. And when she married and then began having her 10 children. But one stood out today as I carefully read through some of the notes and photo cards. The front of the card has a message that although sent to my Grandmother over a hundred years ago in 1909, I welcome today:

“Don’t worry about the future, The present is all thou hast;
The future will soon be present, And the present will soon be past.”

Do you have cards and letters sent to you from long ago? While I have not kept many, I have all of the handwritten cards from my husband Ken before and during our marriage. Some were written on napkins while he was traveling for work, others on the back of an order form, and a few cards too. The letter he gave to me on the night he proposed is so very precious to me now. More on that event on another post. But suffice it to say I am so very grateful to have these handwritten notes along with the memories of Ken. Caring Connections to cherish. Along with a reminder that God has taken care of me in my past, today and will continue to care for me in the future.

While sifting through some of the cards and letters, notes and hand drawn pictures in my box, I have been reminded of the Caring Connections I have been blessed with through the years. I may not remember all of the in person comments made, time spent, or shared experiences over the past few years, but I certainly have a treasure box of Caring Connections to read and enjoy once again anytime I want to.

A Change in Connection, But Still Caring

As you know having read my site and/or blog posts you are aware that I have lived a very different journey these past 2 years. While I am a widow navigating a very different journey than I had intended at this stage in my life, there are some experiences that remain the same. As in Caring Connections with friends and people from my life.

Caring Connections come in many forms, but for me alas social media has created a bit more angst and discouragement than I care to invest in at this time in my life. I have had a bit of time and recent experiences, some not at all positive, that has caused me to reconsider or step back and take a deeper look into my intentions and goals in connecting with others. Especially when it comes to expressing my concern, care and interest in the life of someone I care about. That goes beyond a public post or comment.

As I share this post with you I am in the process of deleting photos, and preparing to take down my FB social media page. With the increased issues that I don’t need to go into great detail about, i.e. one of a few friends that have multiple cloned FB sites now. (you can do a search how to remove cloned pages and other issues with FB for solutions) Each clone is trying to gather a friends list and deceive them, send out spam and hack their FB and other private accounts. Or how many times have I seen the same false post about someone I know that died with a link to somewhere else, which by the way I NEVER click on. The continued blocking of truth, care and compassion from well meaning friends and yet allowing destructive, false narratives and well… that’s enough rant for me today. In short I don’t need or want to share my personal life any longer on a site that is not a Caring Connection for me.

So what are we to do without a simple scroll and click of a like button, or comment on social media? Email works fine, text, or calls too. What happened to a personal connection via a hand written note, card, like the ones to my Grandmother? While it was the only way to connect then, interesting that these cards have survived longer than some of the recent social media comments. With social media It is so much easier to post an update and stay connected. But are we really connected? Really? And what of the treasured boxes of Caring Connections that are waiting to be rediscovered?

Social Media had a genuine and important role for me in the past. I cannot thank all of you and more for the encouragement, care and more that came from posts on social media when we were faced with Ken’s diagnosis and then his death. We were in the middle of the Pandemic with little personal connections, and at that time social media literally made the connections for us. However it was really the results of the information posted that led to the most meaningful, helpful and lasting connections. These were in the personal calls, notes, cards and more that we received during that difficult time. I still have boxes of cards that I take out and read and once again feel the kindness of the sender. I also printed out the numerous comments sent to us. Those too are a lasting reminder of friends who connected and cared for us.

Caring Connection Challenge

While I will miss seeing many posts and updates from friends on FB, I hope that the connections will remain via email, mail, etc. Please send me an email on my connect page so we can stay connected beyond social media.

Apparently I am not alone in taking a break from social media. You may have other friends who have taken a break from social media and in need a connection of care from you this very week.

May I encourage or challenge you to consider how you might share a Caring Connection with someone you care about? Before the end of this month send a note, card or postcard to three people. Nothing fancy, just to say you care. I have no doubt that God will bring to mind someone you know that would be blessed to hear from you. And no expectations for a returned note. I can share from personal experience how very meaningful, timely and appreciated these surprise notes and cards have been to me. As well as how blessed I am to send them.

By the way the dollar store has a wide variety of cards to browse through. You may even find a few to stock up on for that moment when you want to send a card to someone. On a recent not so coincidental stop at the local store I met a new friend who just happened to be the greeting card rep with Hallmark there filling the racks. She was such a bright spot on my day, a Caring Connection to be sure! And instrumental in my sharing this post with you today. What about stamps? Who buys stamps these days? And certainly not for one cent as in the postcard to my Grandmother. Most grocery stores have them. Of course you know where to get all you need to send a note. Now it’s just up to you to get out your pen, think about that special person and bless their day through a Caring Connection.

For me, while cards and notes are treasures to keep in a box, I also appreciate emails that I save into folders. For many of us emails will be the easiest and fastest way to get a Caring Connection to someone that comes to mind at the moment. Whatever works best for you. Also I use my calendar to record notes I send out, my mind can’t store what my Caring Connections box does!

Continued Caring Connections

With memories and stories from the past to living today amidst current changes and challenges there is much to look forward to in the future, especially when shared with Caring Connections.

Thank you for sharing my journey, reading my stories and sending such encouraging and kind notes of care. You are a Caring Connection for me.

May God bless and encourage you as you share Caring Connections with others.

Pati

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Proverbs 3:5-6