Oh, the treasures a shoe box can hold

Photo: Aj Luck

Column Post by Aj Luck 

Did you ever pass notes in school? Did you get all fancy and fold them into neat little shapes with tucked in pockets? Did you save them? I did. I kept them in a shoe box tucked in the back of my closet. No matter how silly or serious the notes, I treasured them all.

Earlier this week I was faced with a situation that was difficult for me. I can’t pinpoint it, exactly; I just knew I was uncomfortable.

As I went to bed that night something kept gnawing at me, deep in the quiet places of my heart, the place reserved for my darkest pains—the ones only my secret keeper, my Creator knows and understands.

I didn’t pray. I tried to sleep. The gnawing invaded my subconscious all night long. I woke up the following morning, coffee in hand, ready to write my column. I had it all planned out. The more I typed, the worse the gnawing in my heart grew. I was uncomfortable. It was unavoidable.

Finally, I shut off the computer, grabbed my favorite pen and my journal and opened it to a blank page. Taking a sip of my warm, creamy coffee, I swallowed harder than I needed to. I knew I was about to wrestle an unknown pain on the page in front of me, and the best way I knew to begin the match was to start it out simple. I put pen to paper and wrote the following words:

“Good morning Lord Jesus… I’m sitting here this morning, cup of coffee in hand, struggling—more like wrestling, actually—and I need to talk to  you about it.”

That was it. I wrote Him a letter. I told him all about the night before and the weird feeling I had.

It was then that something amazing began to happen. The more I wrote, the more He opened my heart and memory. Three pages in, He was reminding me of things from my past that were triggering these painful shards piercing my heart. He helped me name what I was wrestling. It was through my letter to Him that He spoke back. He met me on the pages, open arms, no judgment, no prerequisites. Just love and grace.  As I wrote in honesty, He sent healing in revelation. I closed my journal feeling peaceful and free from my previous struggle.

I have a mental image that one day, in Heaven, God will smile as He hands me a shoe box. Inside will be all of my letters to Him that he has not only saved, but treasured over the years.

“For I cried to Him and He answered me! He freed me from all of my fears.”
Psalms 34:4 NLT

Friend, I encourage you to find  your blank page, grab your pen, and begin to write out your heart before your Creator. I promise, He WILL meet you on the page.

There is healing through written words.

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Aj is a blogger, bookworm, wife and mommy, and an author of children’s books, spiritual thrillers, and inspirational works. Aj’s blog, Shattered Perspectives, is dedicated to encouraging and helping women who have suffered and/or are struggling with abuse. In her spare time Aj can be found nursing cold Diet Cokes and searching for awesome bargains in nearby thrift stores. She resides in Florida with her husband, son, two dogs and the biggest diva of a Siamese cat ever, and can be reached by email at aj@shatteredperspectives.com. For media requests pertaining to Write Where It Hurts, please contact Aj at info@WriteWhereItHurts.org.

Read more encouraging stories from brave-hearted women here. Be sure to grab your free copy of inspirational quotes and writing prompts while you’re there. (Look over on the right hand side!)

7 thoughts on “Oh, the treasures a shoe box can hold

  1. I was having some horrible problems at work. After a more or less sleepless night I got up and wrote a letter to God. Two letters later I felt so much better and had a rough plan in place for moving forward. It was miraculous. Since then I have been able to tolerate the job much more easily. I had heard of writing letters to God but had not tried it before. I will be writing many more letters after this.

  2. Hi Sarah!! Thank you so much for stopping in and reading the column. I really appreciate you sharing your story about writing the letters to God. It really is amazing isn’t it? I am glad there has been peace to your situation. I encourage you to keep writing those letters and filling up that heavenly shoebox!! (((hugs!!))))- Aj

  3. AJ,

    “Oh the Treasures a Shoe Box Can Hold” spoke to me in a way that nothing I have read in the past couple weeks has with the exception of God’s Word. Powerful! I have been journaling for 30+ years and I will never be able to count those days, those nights that I poured my heart out to God through writing Him a letter. The healing and freedom that it has brought me time and time again causes me to rejoice in your
    moment. Blessings, Hugs in Him…

    • Debbie, thank you so much for sharing this. Those moments when we meet our Creator on the page are sacred, sweet moments. – truly treasured. I am so glad you have been able to find healing and freedom by meeting Him there. He is not only our healer, creator, and Savior..but our secret keeper. We can trust Him with our broken hearts. <3
      Love, hugs and prayers!!
      Aj

  4. AJ, Thanks for sharing. For decades writing has been a refuge for me. In the last eight years all my journal entries are letters to our God. You are so right that His healing comes through our writing. Thanks to God and thanks to you.
    Hugs and blessings, Lisa

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