Trail mix + Handwritten Cards + Other reasons to love

I remember hearing stories at my mom’s funeral about her I never knew. How she would bring trail mix to her friends just because they were about to head out on a road trip and trail mix felt right. Or that she wrote a letter to her brother every week because she knew he could use the love. Ah, smile.

I heard about silly stories of her when she was young and listened to hearts of gratitude for her availability. My mom was extremely generous with her time and gifts. And you simply didn’t know my mama without receiving a handmade card or piece of art, typically filled with some well of inspiration or a touch of whimsy.

Langdons aren’t known for our practicality. Whimsy is woven into our heritage.

Gosh, I miss her so much.  

And as happy as I was to hear the stories, I also wondered why do we do this? Why do we wait to share the words and stories that matter so deeply to a life until that soul is gone?

If people are really our gifts and loving them is really our treasure, why do we hesitate to cover people in words of life? What makes us too busy to crack open our feelings and share deeply? Is it the grocery list or the kid’s activities? Is it work? Is it boredom masked into a flurry of activity?

I’ll be the first to admit sometimes I get so lost in laundry that a clean shirt matters more to me than a conversation. Or an errand matters more than the person right in front of me.

But, if I’m honest, I wonder if my busy-ness masks something deeper.

Maybe there is a fear rattling in our bones that keeps us from connecting. Because what if we crack open and share something personal, something kind, something special and it isn’t received?

Rejection.

And so we choose not to say…

… I love you (at the top of our lungs!) Doesn’t love deserve that kind of enthusiasm?!

… I’m sorry (for when I hurt your feelings). Don’t apologies mean we’re human?

… I see the way you love others, work hard, apologize well, forgive easily, (fill-in-the-blank.) Don’t you long to be seen?!

This week, I am promising to slow down enough to speak words of life. Because people are worth it. And knowing how loved they are matters. One trail mix bag at a time.