February 27, 1969 was a busy day for my second grade class.  It was a day when Mrs. Willis had the class focus on penmanship in the form of letter writing. Letters were written to a classmate that was recovering from surgery. They were written on the old tan lined paper for early writers.  Several of the letters said exactly the same two sentences.  A few shared that Mrs. Willis missed the ailing classmate.  A few shared how other students were doing, especially in reading. A couple asked the sick classmate to return to school “just for me.”  

One letter writer used both the front and back of his paper.  He shared lots of information about his classmates.  Two girls were really doing well in reading. Others were not doing well in math. And spelling was really not going well.  He also shared that he himself got in trouble for stopping up the sink with paper.  Oddly, this second grade letter writer said more in his letter than I ever heard him say in high school.  

Yes, I was the sick classmate that benefited from these letters.  They were written to me following serious kidney surgery. I remained hospitalized for three weeks and was on hospital/homebound for several more weeks.  I don’t know the exact date my surgery took place and I never knew of the existence of these letters until after I married.  My sweet Granny handed me a flowered lingerie box shortly after my wedding with all the letters and cards that had been mailed to me from relatives and friends.  I love to bring it out and read them every now and then. 

Most of those letter writers and I graduated high school together. The two girls that were doing really well in reading have used those reading skills. One is a college professor and the other works in ministry. As I read over them again recently, one word in particular suddenly jumped out to me.  The word “comfortable” was used by one of the boys in this final sentence. “I hope you are comfortable.” What an unusual word for a second grader to use!  His sentence showed he truly thought about what to write. His sentence showed he cared. His sentence showed kindness. What a wonderful sentence. 

And the LORD answered the angel that talked with me with good words and comfortable words.” Zechariah 1:13