Grumpy the Gator

In Grumpy the Gator, a group of children playing encounter a grumpy alligator. The story teaches children to always keep a safe distance from animals in the wild, and to find an adult if they see an alligator.

Grumpy the Gator

Its Always A Story With The Hendersons

Mailbox Slots…Don’t Do That!

Writing letters to friends and family is a joy. Finding colorful stickers to decorate envelopes and choosing the right card to send for a special occasion can be fun.

Visiting the local craft store provides a chance to bring out the creative side of my brain.

Walking each aisle to search for interesting cards, envelopes, stickers and possibly a small gift to give for a birthday or “thinking of you” occassion.

Bringing the craft items home, I arrange the various items on the dining room table and begin to assemble.

Looking at the calendar, I check for birthdays, anniversaries, holidays and any other reason to send a greeting.

Pen in hand, I begin writing a note and signing the cards. Stickers attached, envelope sealed, address written and return address label attached, stamp in the top right corner. I am ready to walk to the mailbox and slide the envelopes in the mail slot.

How exciting to be sending greetings! I enjoy receiving mail and love sending mail.

Our neighborhood has a cluster mailbox. All of the boxes are located in one big metal container. Each home has a number and a key. We take the key and open the box to get our mail. The container is so tall that we have a footstool for people like me who can’t quite reach the top mailbox.

This past Monday, I arrived at the mailbox and prepared to place my letters in the slot. One by one, I checked each letter making sure there was a postage stamp affixed, return address and correct address of the person who would receive the letter.

All was well until I decided to stick my fingers a little too far into the mail slot, just to make sure the letters went all the way in the box.

Word of advice…”Don’t do that!” My fingers were almost stuck in the mailbox slot. I could have peeked at the slot. Instead, I chose to place my fingers in the slot.

Immediately, I pulled my fingers out and said, “Thank You Lord.” I was relieved my fingers didn’t stick in the slot. I could just imagine the emergency call.

“What is your emergency?

“Ah, my fingers are stuck in the mail slot.”

I could picture the person on the other end of the line sitting in shock, then saying,
“What did you say?”

Happy to report my fingers are well and I will not be placing those sweet fingers in the mailbox slot again. I will listen for the letters to drop inside the container. I will peek at the slot to make sure the letters are all the way in the box.

Have you ever done something so silly? Have you ever said out loud, “Thank You Lord.”

God is always with us, even when we do things that make no sense. I imagine God had a good laugh with me, too.

Have a blessed day,

Mimi



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55 Comments
  • Candice Brown
    Posted at 18:03h, 05 February Reply

    So many times Father has recused me from foolish decisions, large and small. He’s a good Dad!

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 18:04h, 05 February Reply

      True for me, too. Many times Father has rescued me. 🙂 Have a blessed week!

  • Carol Round
    Posted at 18:13h, 05 February Reply

    Yes, I’ve done foolish things, too. Too many to count. I usually learn from my foolishness but sometimes I repeat my mistake. If I do, you can bet I learn my lesson after the second time. Thanks for this post, Melissa. I loved it. Also, I love sending letters and cards, too. So sad that it seems to be a lost art with people sending text messages and email.

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 19:06h, 05 February Reply

      I love sending letters and cards. Love receiving them, too. 🙂 Today, I am checking the mailbox and depositing my letters without putting my fingers too far in the slot. haha! Have a blessed week! 🙂

  • Ellie
    Posted at 22:03h, 05 February Reply

    This is a cute story and I’ve done many silly things that I think God has rescued me from! I love writing letters and sending cards, too. I’d love to know of a safe way to find pen-pals!

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 23:32h, 05 February Reply

      I remember having pen-pals when I was a young girl. 🙂 We should exchange addresses and become pen-pals. Have a blessed week! 🙂

  • Jill Weatherholt
    Posted at 22:19h, 05 February Reply

    LOL! I did the same thing once at my parent’s house, Melissa. 🙂 We are kindred spirits…I love to send cards and letters, too. I loved the beautiful you sent me recently when I was recovering from the flu. <3

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 23:33h, 05 February Reply

      Aww…you are such a blessing to me. I laughed to myself when I put letters in the mailbox today. No more fingers in the slots. haha! Have a blessed week! 🙂

  • ordinarilyextraordinarymom
    Posted at 00:22h, 06 February Reply

    That certainly sounds like something I would do. I bet all of those people enjoyed their happy mail though❤️

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 00:48h, 06 February Reply

      I have the silliest experiences. I love how God gives me lots to laugh about. Have a blessed week! 🙂

  • Julie Loos
    Posted at 00:24h, 06 February Reply

    I am so thankful that God is always with us!

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 00:49h, 06 February Reply

      Me, too, Julie, even when I am doing silly things. Haha! Have a blessed week! 🙂

  • Jeanne Takenaka
    Posted at 01:50h, 06 February Reply

    Melissa, I loved this! You left me smiling. I have done silly things like that . . . including sticking my fingers in a mail slot and almost having them get stuck. 😉 Aren’t you glad to know you’re not alone in that silly-ness? 🙂

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 13:29h, 06 February Reply

      Yes, I am glad to know I’m not the only one who does things like this. Have a blessed day Jeanne! 🙂

  • Lynn J Simpson
    Posted at 03:28h, 06 February Reply

    They really should make those mail slots more finger-friendly I say! 🙂

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 13:30h, 06 February Reply

      Haha! Maybe I need to start a petition for larger mail box slots. 🙂 Have a blessed day!

  • Karen
    Posted at 06:45h, 06 February Reply

    I can offer you empathy, sweet Mimi. We also have the same type of mail boxes–apparently the wave of the future for new neighborhoods. Not something I would consider user-friendly! Today I braved icy-cold winds and rain to empty our little box, stuffed to the brim. In my awkwardness, the wind blew several pieces of mail away in the twirling wind, but I chased them down and retrieved them. The times I’ve slid letters down the slot, I’ve also pushed in the corners, making sure they fall down their metal chute. I must say, I surely miss my old mailboxes. So glad your finger didn’t get caught! Blessings xoxo

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 13:30h, 06 February Reply

      Karen, very frustrating when the wind tries to take the mail and we have to chase down the items. Stay warm and cozy. Have a blessed day! 🙂

  • Betty Owens
    Posted at 13:10h, 06 February Reply

    Oops! I once dropped a bundle of letters in the slot at the Post Office then drove to the bank and realized my check had fallen among those letters and was now in the mailbox. 🙁 I had to return to the Post Office, find a manager, and in front of everyone confess what had happened. The manager was kind enough to take her key and go out to the mailbox and recover my check. I thanked her several times. “It happens,” she said. 🙂

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 13:31h, 06 February Reply

      I am laughing because that sounds like something I would do. I’m glad the manager opened the box and was able to get the check back to you. 🙂 Have a blessed day!

  • Lisa Quintana
    Posted at 13:54h, 06 February Reply

    I’m pretty sure the Lord chuckles daily at my conundrums!

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 13:58h, 06 February Reply

      I think the Lord chuckles at me, too. I’m so glad He has a sense of humor and gives me the ability to laugh at myself. 🙂 Have a blessed day!

  • Anne Mackie Morelli
    Posted at 14:45h, 06 February Reply

    I think being human qualifies us to make silly mistakes!! Silly stuff just seems to happen. I notice that I am more prone to do silly things when I am in a hurry or careless. So I am trying to slow down and be mindful of what I am doing!

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 15:08h, 06 February Reply

      There is wisdom in your words Anne. Yes, I need to slow down or at least maybe not be so excited about the mail. haha! Have a blessed day! 🙂

  • Yvonne
    Posted at 15:24h, 06 February Reply

    Thank you for being the kind of friend that spends so much time and effort to write letters and cards. It is such a dying art. I don’t send letters but I so love to get them. I need to make more of an effort because I know how much it brightens my day. And, as always, thanks for the chuckle too.

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 15:26h, 06 February Reply

      Thank you Yvonne. I have always loved sending and receiving mail. I think my love for letters and cards came from my parents. They wrote letters and sent cards to many people. 🙂 Have a blessed day!

  • Invisibly Me
    Posted at 16:15h, 06 February Reply

    Hahah ooops, that was a good save! xx

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 16:39h, 06 February Reply

      Yes, a good save and I learned my lesson. haha! Have a blessed day! 🙂

  • nancyehead
    Posted at 18:33h, 06 February Reply

    The moment when you feel like you’ve Twilight Zoned into an I Love Lucy episode. Yes, that’s it.

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 20:19h, 06 February Reply

      Hahaha!!! Yes, that’s the feeling. Love this! Have a blessed day! 🙂

  • Melissa McLaughlin
    Posted at 20:07h, 06 February Reply

    Melissa, I love this story! It feels like things I have done millions of times. Best of all, I love your simple “Thank you, Lord” as a response. I feel like it captures your heart for God and your closeness to Him. I pray that I will think of Him spontaneously in the silly little moments, as well as the big ones.

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 20:20h, 06 February Reply

      Thank you Melissa. Isn’t it wonderful how we can go to Him even in the silly moments? We are blessed to be His. Have a blessed day! 🙂

  • Barb Ready
    Posted at 21:27h, 06 February Reply

    All. The. Time. My mother nicknamed me “Grace”. And not because I am graceful! I can’t wait to meet my guardian angel and give her a giant hug!!
    And, I love writing notes to people. I’m not as faithful as I used to be. Arthritis keeps me from writing much! But, I believe people just love getting hand written mail, even if it’s a sentence.😀

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 21:45h, 06 February Reply

      Barb, you are so sweet! I know what you mean about arthritis. Yes, people love getting mail even if it’s only a sentence. Have a blessed day! 🙂

  • June Foster
    Posted at 00:40h, 07 February Reply

    Melissa, I’m so glad your sweet fingers are okay. You have to use them to write your next book! Don’t feel bad. When I was a kid, I got a ring stuck on my finger and my mom had to take me to the fire department to get it cut off. The ring, not the finger. Today I still do stuff like that.

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 13:15h, 07 February Reply

      OH my! A trip to the fire department! Wow! How exciting! 🙂 Yes, I am writing stories today. Have a blessed day! 🙂

  • Jessica Brodie
    Posted at 15:26h, 07 February Reply

    Too funny! I’m glad you were ok!

    • Melissa Henderson
      Posted at 16:34h, 07 February Reply

      Thank you Jessica. I wonder what adventure I will have today. haha! Have a blessed day! 🙂

  • Melinda Viergever Inman
    Posted at 18:00h, 07 February Reply

    This is great! I, too, like to hear and see that those letters did indeed drop into the box. I’ve almost snared my fingers more than once. I’m glad your fingers didn’t stick.

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 22:48h, 07 February Reply

      Yikes! I see I am not the only one who wants to make sure those letters stay in the box. Let’s be careful. 🙂 Have a blessed day!

  • Emily Saxe | To Unearth
    Posted at 20:41h, 07 February Reply

    A great reminder that God cares about all things — even the silly little things — about our days!

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 22:48h, 07 February Reply

      Amen. God cares about all things, even the silly little things. Have a blessed day! 🙂

  • authordlv
    Posted at 21:20h, 08 February Reply

    I know I’ve had my fingers stuck in things, Mimi. I’ve had plenty of why-did-I-do-that? moments through the years. I’m glad we have a God who get involved in the slightest of things. I suppose our fingers will never get stuck in Heaven.

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 18:22h, 09 February Reply

      I’ve had many “Why did I do that?” moments. Good thing God has given me the ability to laugh at myself. Have a blessed day! 🙂

  • karentfriday
    Posted at 02:31h, 09 February Reply

    Glad your fingers are okay. One thing that struck me most about this post is the fact that you send greeting cards. I love getting cards in the mail, but so many people have abandoned this practice for just sending electronic cards, and texts, etc. It seems to be a lost art, yet stores still carry greeting cards for special occasions.

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 18:23h, 09 February Reply

      Karen, I love getting notes and cards in the mailbox. How wonderful to know someone thought of me. I love to send greetings, too, just to let someone know I am thinking of them and praying for them. 🙂 Have a blessed day! 🙂

  • Ava Pennington
    Posted at 21:30h, 10 February Reply

    Wish I could say I haven’t done anything like that, but…uh…nope! Have made quite a few foolish choices!

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 21:59h, 10 February Reply

      Each day brings opportunity to make foolish choices. I am thankful God forgives and gives me more opportunities to do things right. Have a blessed week! 🙂

  • Bettie G
    Posted at 03:22h, 14 February Reply

    Oh Melissa, I can just see myself doing that kind of thing! I find myself laughing over the goofy things I do some days! Thank you for sharing bright spots that help our days. Blessings to you!

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 15:18h, 21 February Reply

      You are so sweet Bettie! I continue to do things that make me laugh and I know God laughs with me. 🙂 Have a blessed day!

  • debwilson2
    Posted at 02:39h, 19 February Reply

    Melissa, your story brings back a memory. When I was a teenager I was walking and talking with a friend when we passed a mailbox. I absentmindedly dropped my empty cup into it. My friend said, “What did you just do?” I looked in horror. In my mind it was a trash bin. Thankfully, I realized there was no way to put my arm down and retrieve my cup! That would have been doubly embarrassing to explain why my arm was down it. I hope the mail carrier wasn’t upset!

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 15:19h, 21 February Reply

      Oh my goodness! That would have been awful to explain why your arm was stuck. haha! Glad you didn’t try to retrieve the cup. I bet mail carriers see all kinds of items. 🙂 Have a blessed day!

  • Eliza
    Posted at 17:47h, 22 March Reply

    Sending letters is fun…
    Definitely done such things. Like trapping my finger in a car door – still unsure how I did that.
    I’m glad you didn’t get stuck…
    Love, light, and glitter

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 20:08h, 22 March Reply

      Yes, I agree. Sending letters is fun. Thanks for reading and commenting. Have a blessed day! 🙂

      • Eliza
        Posted at 21:18h, 22 March Reply

        It was good to read your post. I haven’t in so long!!

        Love, light, and glitter

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