Imagine your surprise getting two letters from friends, not your typical one line emails, that praised your support and encouragement when they fell upon hard times. A Sonshine Friend shared that her close friend suffered a serious car accident on New Year’s Day. A shattered hip required replacement and long-term care from all the injuries. Our Sonshine called and prayed and listened and now she got her surprise. What’s better than a flower arrangement or fruit basket, in her own words-- a "letter of reference" that lovingly remembered her time and presence that helped her friend to heal.For a moment this morning, imagine yourself waiting before the pearly gates and God asks you the question. "Do you have any letters of reference?" We might be embarrassed or surprised by this question. It’s a simple request for proof on how well we carried out His will in this life. Perhaps, there’s a file under your name and God simply pulls out some "letters of reference" that tells the story on how well you listened to your neighbor and brought some poor soul hope and courage.
Now we spend a lot of time during Lent accounting our failures and weaknesses before the throne of God and ask for pardon which goes without saying. But I like to suggest a new Lenten practice. Why not write those people in your life who helped you in your worse moments a "letter of reference." Please no cryptic email messages but a letter from your heart. It expresses your gratitude when you felt abandoned, afraid or alone and this friend took you to a concert or drove you to an appointment. Or, you suffered an accident--fell off your horse-- and you drove your friend to the emergency room and prayed the X-ray was negative. Or, the pilot light went out in your furnace at two in the morning and your neighbor came to fix that 40 year old boiler and brought the heat back on. Or, you were out of work due to another downsizing and your neighbor brought your family food and handed out your resume to their employer to help you find work. Or, while you were providing support to your parent in hospice, your sister was watching and feeding your kids and the kitties.
Now God would carefully review each "letter of reference" to see how well you listened to the needs of the poor, those who had no voice or those who fell off their horse or those who had no job and you came to their rescue. Can you imagine Our Lord’s smile when He looks straight in your eyes and says "thanks for being there for ME."
Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends that you get them cracking to write those "letters of reference" to their teachers, their neighbors, their siblings, their in-laws, their best friends who always listened and found the time to encourage and support. May your file be full to the brim!
