Just Write the Letter

In the wise words of Cody Johnson:

“If you got a chance, take it, take it while you got a chance
If you got a dream, chase it, ’cause a dream won’t chase you back”

Coincidentally, this song came out RIGHT as I was about to write possibly the most important letter I’ve ever written. 

I was raised with my younger brother whom I adore. We have always been really close and I’m forever grateful for that relationship. 

I also grew up knowing that my biological father (whom I was not raised by due to certain circumstances) had another daughter. I always knew her name, birthday, and where she was raised, but I never actually got the chance to know her. I distinctly remember getting to meet her once when she was about a year old, and I was 7 years old. I held her on my lap for a few minutes, but that is the only real memory I have with her. Catch me now forever wishing iPhones were a thing in 1997 so we’d have a photo of that on record!

Fast forward TWENTY-SIX years. 

That’s twenty-six years of wondering what she looked like, what she was doing, where she lived, what she liked, what kind of personality she had, and so much more. For many personal reasons, I never attempted to reach her. Earlier this year, a dear friend of mine was contacted by a nephew she had never met, and I was very inspired by that circumstance.

I was listening to Cody Johnson’s “‘Til You Can’t” in the car one day and decided there was really no reason for me to keep wondering what my sister was like, and (hopefully) find out for myself. I discovered that she actually only lives a few miles from me, and wrote her a letter in hopes that she would write back, but with no real expectations of what might be. I had no idea how she would feel getting such a letter after all this time. 

Thankfully, she agreed to meet me for coffee. Hilariously enough, we showed up to the coffee shop dressed just alike, and ordered the same drink! We talked for a little over an hour and ended up going to brunch together. Since then, we’ve hung out several times, been introduced to our significant others, and this past weekend I had the privilege of watching her try on wedding dresses. If you’re wondering if I cried, the answer is yes. 😉

I honestly had no true expectations for what would come of this relationship, but was hopeful that we would form some type of a bond. I had no idea that it would come this naturally though, and I’m honored to now be able to say that I have a baby brother AND and a baby sister. 

Friends, if there’s something on your heart that you’re being called to do, GO FOR IT. It may not end as well as my circumstance, but it is my hope that it absolutely would. If not, at least you can say that you made the best effort, rather than spending twenty six years wishing you would have. 

“Don’t wait on tomorrow ’cause tomorrow may not show
Say your sorries, your I-love-yous, ’cause man you never know”