Date: Tue, 17 Dec 2013 13:03:17 -0500
From: Melissa Delbridge
Subject: Thank you note
Good morning! I just wanted to take a moment to introduce myself to the person who knocked down my mailbox and threw their beer cans out on the side of the street where I live. I’m sure you don’t know me, but I’m a writer and an archivist. I teach and do volunteer work. I also read college applications, so every year I read the thoughts and the accomplishments of thousands of fine young people with wonderful goals and dreams for the world. I know that you have fine goals and dreams, too. I know that your actions two nights ago are not representative and I know this is not the best you can or will do. I have faith in this.
Finding my mailbox in the ditch was something of an inconvenience. It was a little hard for me to retrieve, as I have arthritis in my hands and am not as agile as I was 10 years ago, but I managed it without too much trouble. It did cost some of the kindest people I know their time and money to replace the mailbox. It meant that instead of working on my book and meeting with a student who needed my help this morning, I had to make phone calls and arrange for my mailbox to be replaced and for my mail to be delivered until it’s up again, but I didn’t mind so much. It meant that my mother won’t get a letter for which she is waiting quite so soon and that my friend won’t get her card till the day after her birthday. Don’t worry, though. My student and my mother understood and my friends have never begrudged helping me.
I’m not sure what made you think it was a good idea to break my mailbox. Maybe you thought it would increase your status with your own pals. I doubt if it accomplished this. You may want to find some new friends who believe in you and want you to do your best, or at least to find some other ways to impress people that won’t make you appear to be mean and small. I honestly don’t believe you are either.
Finally, I want to thank you – for challenging me to put into practice my belief in forgiveness. It’s a privilege and I do sincerely and completely forgive you for knocking down my mailbox. I don’t know if you felt bad about it the next day, but if you did, here’s an idea: maybe you would feel better about yourself if you take a sack out somewhere and clean up some litter that someone else thoughtlessly tossed out the window of their car. Or maybe you could find a neighbor who needs some help and offer yours willingly and freely. Use that kind and loving heart that I know you have. You probably just forgot about it for a few minutes the night you knocked down my mailbox. Helping others is how we rise together. In closing, I hope you and your family and friends have wonderful holidays . Maybe see if you can find a way to make someone else’s holidays better, too. It will do the same for you.
Wishing you all things good,
Melissa Delbridge