You've Got Mail!

Hey y'all! 

As I write to tell you more about the summer of 2011, I find myself dealing with some of the same familiar feelings of rejection and loss. Those feelings reminded again me of how dependent I was on God’s supernatural strength to get up and out of bed in the mornings, to fall asleep at night, to eat, to exercise and to fight off paralyzing emotions and feelings of insecurity. I battled those things one prayer at a time, one day at a time, with God’s truth and love found in the Bible.

Although I slept much better last week than I did that summer, I still found myself drowning in thoughts of inadequacy, despair, and feelings of loneliness and rejection. They were consuming my head and I begged God for some encouragement and truth to get the lies out of my heart. Thankfully, I remembered a verse that I had seen a few days before. 

“But I trust in God's unfailing love; my heat rejoices in His salvation. I will sing to the Lord for He has been good to me.” Psalms 13:5-6

 

Those words are true! I do trust in God’s unfailing love. I believe that God is who He says He is in the Bible. 

   

I'm grateful to have a placed saved for me in heaven through Jesus Christ’s death on the cross.

 

I am thankful for all of my many blessings. God has been good to me. 

 

 Whew, truth! Just what I needed for my heart to settle. The encouragement came through a phone call from my sweet cousins (just calling because they wanted to talk to Aunt Jes!) and a crazy, funny (hey y'all!) email from a friend that brightened my day. Sometimes we have to ask to be reminded of the truth. It's okay to ask God to show us how much He loves us AND to ask our friends and family for help when we need it most. One of the BIGGEST blessings of my life also happened that summer of 2011 … when I asked and God provided.

In mid-July of 2011, I found out the judge had signed all of the divorce decree documents and it was just a matter of a week or two before I received my copy in the mail. I dreaded going to the post office and I hated the fact that going to check my mail was making me sick to my stomach. Ugh. But the worst part of it all is that I LOVE getting mail! (I mean, who doesn't?!) So I had this idea! I emailed my friends and family for a favor and asked them to send me some mail – a note, a care package, the Sunday comics —anything fun and lighthearted so that when I opened that little post office box, the good outweighed the bad. And let me tell you …that idea worked!

The first time I went to check my mail after sending that email, my mailbox was stuffed full! I pulled out letters and postcards from across the country! It was UNBELIEVABLE!

I could hardly believe my eyes! I cried all the way back home to the apartment ... and the divorce decree wasn’t even in there! I was overwhelmed with love from my family and friends who had sent mail. Cards of encouragement and love came each time I opened my post office box for the next two weeks and when the divorce decree finally arrived, it didn’t seem to hurt as much as I had anticipated.

We don’t have to do this life alone. God’s love is always enough! Sometimes His love comes from an indescribable peace, confidence and a smile, or in a "thinking of you!" text message from a friend, an unexpected act of kindness from a stranger or a sweet embrace. God puts people in our lives for a reason. Let them love on you, pray for you, and help you need you need it most. That's why we have family and friends!

Thank you so much to everyone who sent cards and letters that summer. I promise never forget the love you showed and the precious words I read. Thank you! Thank you! 

 

Much, much love,

 xoxo

Jes

“Because of God’s unfailing love, we are not consumed. For His compassion never fails.” Lamentations 3:22

“But I call to God and the Lord saves me.” Psalm 55:16