The Wednesday Letters

How many of us have actually sat down and wrote someone or ourselves a letter?

When I served a mission for my Church in Germany, I would write my family weekly emails and occasionally hand written letters. I also wrote letters to my Grandpa while serving a mission. My Grandpa had already passed away, but I found comfort writing him too. These letters are my journal. I have always been a terrible journal writer/keeper. But, something about a letter made it so much easier to write about what is going on, my feelings, thoughts, circumstances, etc. I read The Wednesday Letters by Jason F. Wright this month. After reading this book, I decided I want to go back to writing letters as a form of journal keeping because (to no surprise) I am still bad at keeping a journal. I have not decided to whom these letters will be written to--maybe me, my kids, or husband.

The book did not have me hooked until close to half way through. Laurel and Jack were an older married couple who owned a small Bed & Breakfast. They had three children who where grown up  and facing challenges of their own. When Jack and Laurel passed away, their children discovered a whole stash of letters. They discovered Jack had written Laurel every single Wednesday since they got married. It was Jacks way of keeping a journal too. These letters fascinated their kids, and some secrets about their parent's lives were inside those letters. Secrets that would affect their children.
 The story takes place the week leading up to their funeral and during.

It was when those secrets were discovered I really got into the book. Some parts of the story even had me in tears. I recommend this book to everyone who loves a good story about love, trust, commitment, and reflection. I would most likely read this story again one day.

Jason F. Wright is also the author of the book Christmas Jars. I met Wright when I was in college. He came to the University to speak at the English Professional Writing Conference. During his visit, my Creative Writing professor had him come speak to our class personally. He writes very uplifting and inspiring stories that leave you with a new perspective or a feeling of wanting to be a little better.