Mark Katrick: Mom's cursive in addressing Valentine's Day cards teaches valuable lesson.
My mother had the most beautiful handwriting. She regularly employed the cursive style of penmanship.
In case you don’t know, cursive is a style of writing that has joined letters written with the help of loops. The main objective is to write without lifting the instrument, such as a pen or a pencil, according to Study.com. It also makes it look more elegant or beautiful.
Claire Bernette Katrick saved her best efforts for sending out Valentine’s Day cards with attached notes. With pen in hand, she poured her heart and soul into it. Triumphantly, she wrapped rubber bands around stacks of Valentines, sorting them by ZIP code. Then, with great joy deep down inside, she walked them around our circular driveway to the mailbox and sent them on their way to family members, neighbors and friends.
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It wasn’t until I started my journey in spiritual direction, back in 2010, that I began to appreciate that for Mom, handwriting was a deeply spiritual endeavor. Though the cursive style is designed for efficiency (to speed up the process), she used it to slow herself down. Every word and punctuation mark was carefully placed like so many parts of a patchwork quilt.
Have you noticed how people seem to be moving WAY TOO FAST these days? One of the many things I’ve learned in spiritual direction is to SLOW IT DOWN! For example, when you write slowly, it relaxes your muscles, slows your respirations and helps you to find your center, emotionally and spiritually.
Another way to lessen the pace is using your nonwriting hand. It is said that doing this will release your inner child, who needs to be heard. Believe it or not, when I employ this method of writing, it’s more legible.
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So my advice to you for this Valentine’s Day is quite simple: Don’t be in such a rush when you’re selecting, writing on and addressing your cards and notes. Put a little love from your heart into each word and sentence. Create your own beautiful patchwork quilt. Your family, neighbors and friends will want to keep these works of art forever, just like I’ve kept some of Mom’s.
While you’re at it, write a love letter to God for all the great things God has done and TAKE YOUR TIME! And do the same when you sit down and pray. You can slow down your spoken words too.
Mark Katrick is a pastor and spiritual guide.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Mark Katrick faith column: Mom's cursive teaches valuable life lesson
