On the eve of a quick trip to go to Disneyland in California, my son and daughter in law along with my grand babies stopped by to share a birthday dessert with me.

As they laughed and jested about my upcoming 60^th birthday they presented me with “the” box.   A box covered in positive words closed with a latch was placed in front of me. Tears welled up in my eyes even before I lifted the lid; I knew it was something meaningful because my kids always choose a gift for me that is more about heart than finances!

Slowly I lifted the lid and looked down at well over 45 envelopes, some typed and some handwritten, but all instantly precious to me. All I could think about was that so many people had taken time out of their incredibly busy schedule to remember me. So precious.

I spent an entire evening slowly reading through every word, every card, every encouragement. Sitting on a chair on the other side of the living room my sweet husband kept asking, “are you ok?” With tears in my eyes I kept saying “my heart is full to overflowing.”

There is something so precious about the written word. In previous blogs I have discussed the incredible richness of a written card or letter.  In the age of email, instagram, and texting there is a lost art of sharing our hearts via the written word.

I will forever keep these cards, I will forever cherish the words shared with me and I will be forever grateful for the encouraging words written by precious people who stopped to take the time to encourage me. I am, again, humbled by each and every word. This is the value of the box. Friends, thank you for taking the sting out of turning 60! Great years ahead!