I have a dear friend who once told me “Life is what gets in the way while you are making other plans”. I am not sure I quite understood what he said until…life’s ugly reality got in my way.
I must admit, I took a lot for granted – my family, my friends, and my faith. Life was perfect, until one day, it wasn’t. The challenges came quickly: illnesses, aging parents and in-laws, life ending decisions, numerous unemployment issues, sick children, situations and events that we have all faced at one point or another. I remember asking God why some of these things were happening to me and to those I loved so very much. Through it all, I was the person everyone looked to for strength and guidance. My children would say that as long as Mom didn’t freak out, everything would be OK. So, much like Oliver, I learned to keep MY emotions sheltered inside and present a strong, positive image to the world. I would be someone who was always in control. After all, I had been doing this all of my life, hadn’t I? What I was about to realize was that I was never in control. God was. |
During this time of searching, I came upon a movie on a station I had never watched before. It was Signed, Sealed, Delivered: For Christmas. From the moment I started watching, I was totally captivated. I had NEVER experienced a reaction such as I had for this film. The beautiful words that Martha Williamson wrote spoke to my broken heart. When Oliver talks to Shane on the bridge in the hospital as he prepares to deliver the response to her very own lost letter he says, “The answer in here has found you!” I sat frozen in my seat. |
I truly believe that Signed, Sealed, Delivered came into my life at just the right time. God had given me my sign and I began to look at my new way of life with a perspective of Hope. I wanted to find out more about this show that had touched me so deeply. I purchased the available movies and the series and watched them over and over again. I began to look for opportunities to watch marathons and new SSD films on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries. I was renewed by the positive messages found within each and slowly, my broken heart began to heal. I discovered the A&D Blog shortly thereafter and began to look forward to the posts every day. I have become a member of a wonderful group of POstable friends who strengthen my soul on a daily basis.
I am pleased to say that I have reconnected with my faith and, I now have the courage to go on trusting that God will guide me on my journey. I am open to His graces and challenges that will help me discover who I really am in the face of the changes life presented. Like Oliver and Shane in For Christmas, all I needed to do was look for the evidence of a #DivineDelivery right in front of me and #TrustTheTiming. Thank you, Ms. Martha, for your beautiful words of encouragement. Thank you, Eric and Kristin for your honest and sincere portrayals of Oliver and Shane. Thank you, Signed, Sealed, Delivered for touching my heart and giving me hope on that dark July day when you first spoke to me, and continuing to be a beacon of hope in the world. |
The Living Letters series will continue as long as there are stories to share. If you would like to contribute something about how Signed, Sealed, Delivered has impacted your life that you'd be willing to share here on A&D, feel free to email me.