Return to Sender

I was inspired reading this article about a lost letter that found its way back home 60 years later. The Bible also talked of a man who left his home and went his ways to waste his life and his inherited wealth. Thinking he had seen much hardship after losing everything he had, he thought of going back home to his father’s house even if he will only be treated as an slave. The prodigal son, what a story to remind us how great is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to us. We are lost souls that He saved at the cross. Yes we may have been lost on the way, but He will always find ways to bring us back home.  

Lost letter makes it way back home 60 years later

lLAWRENCE, Kan. – A letter detailing the mood after Truman defeated Dewey that was lost in the postal system for nearly 60 years recently turned up in the mailbox of a Kansas woman.

Xan Wedel found the letter, postmarked Nov. 11, 1948, in her mailbox Friday. The envelope was stamped with “Return to sender” and “Found in supposedly empty mailbox.”

The letter was addressed to a Ruth Willisten in Rockfall, Conn., but it never reached its destination. It was sent by Gertrude Gilmore, who lived at Wedel’s house in 1948.

The letter states, “All Lawrence is in mourning since the election,” during which Harry S. Truman beat Thomas E. Dewey for the presidency of the United States. The election would have taken place just days before the letter was postmarked.

Gilmore also talks about her new Westinghouse electric refrigerator and the new pastor at Plymouth Congregational Church.

Wedel said she thinks the Gilmore family built her home in 1890 and that Gertrude was one of their daughters.

“It’s impossible to really know what may or may not have happened,” said Lawrence Postmaster Judy Raney. “No matter what, we always take it and go ahead and send it on.”

Wedel said she is preserving the letter. She photographed the envelope and four-page letter and scanned them into her computer. She said she now has interest in the family who built the home she’s lived in for nearly four years.

“It would be really interesting to see if they are still in town or have any descendants that would know the history behind her and who she was writing,” Wedel said.

Mahal tayo ng Diyos at ni kalian man ay hindi niya tayo pababayaan. Mahiwalay man tayo sa kanya pansamantala, pero patuloy pa rin ang pagtawag niya sa atin dahil mahal tayo talaga ng Amang Diyos.

Manalangin tayo:

Ama naming bagamat patuloy po ang aming ginagawang pagkakasala sa iyo, patuloy kaming nawawala sa landas, nandiyan pa rin kayong gumagabay sa amin at hindi pinababayaan. Salamat Ama sa araw araw mong biyaya at ang kaligtasan ibinibigay ninyo sa amin. Nandiyan lang po kayo na matiyagang  tumatawag tuwing nawawala kami sa matuwid na landas ng buhay. Salamat Panginoon sa pag-ibig at pagmamahal na iniuukol ninyo sa amin hanggang sa iyong pagdating upang kami dalhin sa iyong tahanan at mabuhay nang walang hanggan. Amen.