My sweetie and I went to North Carolina beaches for a getaway, and were gone for eleven glorious days. The weather was fabulous, the seafood was great (well, except for that one meal when I had an allergic reaction), the beaches were beautiful, and our time away was restful and restorative. 

We actually planned this trip last September. We had never been to the area when we went to Ocean Isle Beach last September. Within a few days, Hurricane Florence chased us away along with all the residents on the NC coast. The hurricane hit land about 30 miles from where we were staying. We left ahead of the storm and drove all the way to Gatlinburg, Tennessee to finish out the week. It was a memorable vacation to say the least. Seeing the vast ocean with a Cat 4 hurricane approaching and the breathtaking Blue Ridge Parkway all in the same day was an overwhelming reminder of God’s majesty and power. It spoke such peace to my heart to know He holds it ALL in His hands, including me.

“Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand…” Isaiah 40:12a

“In whose hand are the depths of the earth, the peaks of the mountains are His also.” Psalms 95:4

We promised ourselves and the owner of the house where we stayed at Ocean Isle Beach last year that we would be back to finish the trip. One of the things I was so looking forward to last year was a walk to the Kindred Spirit Mailbox on Bird Island.

The story goes that back years ago, a lady named Claudia saw a mirage in her head of a mailbox on the beach. She couldn’t get it off of her mind and a few years later, in the 70’s, she placed a mailbox on the spit of sand on Tubbs Inlet between Sunset Beach and Ocean Isle Beach, NC. Visitors would walk (or swim if the tide was up) to the remote area and place letters in the box. Letters vary—those to loved ones who had passed away, apologies to a loved one for a fight they had had, outpourings to a father they never knew. One woman left a picture of a sonogram of her baby on the day she found out she was pregnant. Others have written confessions. Some have written letters to God.

Sometimes people return year after year on an anniversary of the loss of a loved one, or to celebrate beating cancer. The letters vary, but the common desire is the same—to fill the box with whatever is on the writer’s heart.

Frank Nesmith, once a sweetheart of Claudia’s, has taken care of the mailbox for many years. In 1983, the mailbox was moved to Bird Island after the little island was washed away by time and the changing tides. Claudia wanted to remain anonymous until she died in 2013. A romance novelist from the area, Jacqueline McGroot had a friendship with her for years and has shared about the mailbox in her writings. Ms. McGroot now helps Frank with the mailbox as he is 88 years old and the 1.4 mile walk up the remote island to the box is difficult for him.

Past journals are stored in Wilmington at a library/museum. Nicholas Sparks wrote about this mailbox in his last novel, Every Breath, which has made the trip even more popular. It is said that over 100,000 people have walked to this mailbox over the years. I wanted to be one of them.

Last Thursday was the perfect day for the trip. It was a high of 80 degrees and the sky was absolutely gorgeous. The trees along the wooden path to the beach were decorated with sand dollars, each with writing on them. Some were painted. One of the first things I noticed on our walk was the butterflies. I have never noticed butterflies on the beach before, but there were tons of them crossing our path again and again as we walked up the beach.

The crowd got lighter and lighter as we walked farther and farther up the isolated beach. We talked, we watched the birds. I rescued a dragon fly that had gotten his wings caught in the sand upside down. He was kicking his legs as hard as he could, but he couldn’t turn over. I rescued him before the next wave could drown him. I had done my good deed for the day; possibly just in time for one of the birds from the island preserve to snatch him up for lunch. Oh well, I tried. 

It was a very spiritual experience on the beach that day. We were alone with no people either way as far as you could see, just us and the birds and the butterflies. The waves came in at an angle, rolling over and over kissing the white sands. There was something hypnotic and so peaceful in the crash of the waves. God had created this perfect day for our adventure. I felt so small, yet so important that God would set this stage just for me and my husband. I could feel His presence.

Finally, we saw the mailbox. There was a couple there, and the wife was writing in one of the journals. We chatted a bit and made their picture for them, and they made ours for us. Then they left.

I pulled some journals from the mailbox, and read of weary hearts, weary hearts seeking hope. I prayed for those who had written.

Then I sat to write. Beforehand, I had thought long and hard about what I wanted to write—a thank you letter to God. I thanked Him for getting me through so many trials and working so many miracles in my life—more than I could ever count. Certainly more than I could ever write in that journal.

I thanked Him for my family, my health, and my blessed life. I asked Him to continue to have His hand in our lives, and to guide our children to all He has planned for them. I asked that He would help our divided nation, that He would bring a revival to our nation and heal our land. I prayed He would start with revival in my heart.

I left information about Grace In The Wilderness Ministries and my blog. I hope someone who reads my entries will look me up. I could have written a lot more, but I knew it was time to head back.

We enjoyed a memory I will never forget that day—the day we went to the Kindred Spirit Mailbox. I had something to say. I am so glad I got to say it.

Thank You, God, for the beauty of Your ocean, and for breaks where we can get away with family and recharge. Thank You for this special opportunity and for the Kindred Spirit Mailbox. Whether it was originally meant as a means of communication with You or not, I know You have used it and the walk down Your beautiful beach many times to help people find hope through You. I pray for all those weary hearts seeking answers and hope. I pray that they find the only real and lasting hope there is, and that is through Your Son Jesus Christ. Thank You for Your love for each and every one of us. I am so thankful that what matters to us, matters to You. Amen

I welcome your comments and thoughts. Thank you for reading and sharing my blogpost today. May you always find hope in our God who holds the whole world in His hands, and peace knowing He is holding you too. If you ever get the chance to go to the Kindred Spirit Mailbox on Bird Island in North Carolina, go…