Some Thoughts on Sending Personal Notes
Over the last few months, I have been making an effort to send more cards with personal notes inside. I still am nowhere near as good at is as I need to be, but I’m working on it. (In fact, that’s why I’m writing this post…to hold myself accountable!)
[Side Note: I do have one major excuse for not writing cards, by the way. My handwriting is awful. In fact, the only “C” I ever got in school was in 5th-grade in handwriting. The problem goes way back! In fact, it is not uncommon for me to have someone tell me something like, “Thank you for the card. I couldn’t quite make out all it said, but I say your name.”]
Oh well. It’s the thought that counts, right?
Despite my horrible handwriting, I have gotten some pleasure out of sending cards. Further, my business cards are the type that “open up” like a card, so I can leave a short handwritten note on the inside. I like that personal touch, so it is not just a “dry” business card, but is personal for that attempted visit.
May I encourage all of us to send more handwritten cards? Here are 3 reasons why a handwriten card or note means so much.
Personal. This is a card to you and a note to you. Even if is a short note as you recover from surgery that could be similar (or virtually the same) as one sent to another person, it is still your name and your card. It means the sender sees you as a person and wants this note to be to you. That means something very special.
Thoughtful. The note may be short or long. But you do not commit to writing a card without thinking at least a little bit about what you want to say. If the message is nothing more than “thinking of you and praying for you today,” you know the thought behind that message is real. As much as I write (sermons, bulletin articles, this blog), I will admit that I am not very good at the wording of the cards I write. Still, I will also admit that thought goes into each one.
They Represent Time. I suppose the main reason people do not send cards is that it takes time to do so. It is faster to type out an email (which is not bad sometimes) or tap an emoji to someone. A card, however, takes a little work. The thought, the writing process, addressing the envelope, putting on the stamp, and placing it in the mail. No matter how short or long the note, though, it took time for that person to think of you and send that note. It means a great deal.
As I said, I am not good at this yet, but I am finding that I enjoy it more than I used to. I am still very hit-and-miss on the “types” of cards I send (for example, I will send to some who are sick, but then fall off the wagon and not send to others), but I’m trying to do better. I currently keep a box of these cards on my desk to remind me to get to it!
So…if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be writing a couple of cards today.
How about you?
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AUTHOR: Adam Faughn
