Friday, February 17, 2012

Just A Simple Note...

My mind is on my father-in-law today.  He is improving, but very slowly.  My husband will be on the road tomorrow, to go see him again.

Did you ever have one of those "wake up calls" to make you reassess something?  This was another one of those for me.  My family needs to make time to spend with him.  Days, then weeks, go by so quickly.  Before you realize, it's been way too long since we've visited.  I had been trying to phone him more.  Somewhere between his birthday and Christmas, I'd taken the time to write him a long letter, one of thanks for all he has meant to me over the years.  It was long overdue.  I'm not great about thank you notes.  It wasn't something we did in my family.  I said "thank you" many times, but there is something more concrete about writing it, slipping it into an envelope, affixing a stamp, and mailing it.  I believe it meant something to him too.  I noticed an increase in phone calls from him.  A lighter, brighter tone to his voice. 


We all long to be appreciated.  To have our efforts noticed.  I wish I hadn't waited so long to put it in writing, but I'm very glad I did get it done.  It felt great doing it, and I'm thinking it brightened his day.  Now I'm wondering, who else is long overdue for some words of appreciation from me? I'm sure there are more than a couple.  I'll have to be working on that.  Until then, for all you have done, let me just say...

3 comments:

Donna said...

Awwww...I think we all need to do more...
Love you sweet friend!
hughugs

Nita Jo said...

Hugs and love to you too Donna! I always love when you stop by!

Donna said...

Yes, we need the gentle reminder that time passes swiftly and we need to make an effort to let people know how we really feel about them.

I felt compelled to write a very long thank you note to my dad for a father's day. It was a couple of years later when he died. I was glad to have poured my heart out and let him know before he passed.