The short story “A Letter to God” by Gregorio López y Fuentes is a beautiful narrative that highlights themes of faith, hope, and human resilience. The story revolves around Lencho, a poor farmer who depends entirely on his crops for survival. After a devastating hailstorm destroys his crops, leaving him and his family on the brink of starvation, Lencho decides to write a letter to God asking for help.
Interestingly, Lencho chooses to write this letter on a Sunday. But why did Lencho write the letter on Sunday? What significance does this particular day hold in the context of Lencho’s life, his faith, and the broader message of the story? Let’s explore the reasons behind Lencho’s decision and its deeper meaning.
1. Sunday: A Day of Worship and Faith
For Lencho, who was a man of deep faith, Sunday held religious significance. In many cultures, especially in Christian communities, Sunday is considered a holy day, a time to worship, pray, and connect with God. It is a day when people reflect on their lives and seek spiritual guidance.
Lencho’s choice to write the letter on a Sunday indicates that he saw this day as the perfect opportunity to communicate with God. Given his unshakable belief that God would help him, he probably felt that writing on a day dedicated to faith and worship would make his plea more sacred and significant.
2. A Day of Rest and Reflection
Apart from its religious significance, Sunday is traditionally a day of rest. Farmers like Lencho, who work hard in their fields throughout the week, use Sunday to rest and reflect. With no farming work to do, Lencho had the time and peace of mind to sit down and express his thoughts and worries.
After the hailstorm destroyed his crops, Sunday provided Lencho with the quiet time he needed to think about his family’s future. It was during this period of reflection that Lencho realized he had no one to turn to but God. Writing the letter on Sunday, therefore, symbolizes a moment of deep thought and reliance on divine help.
3. Expression of Urgency and Desperation
Another reason why Lencho wrote the letter on Sunday could be his sense of urgency. The hailstorm had left him with nothing—no crops to sell, no food to eat, and no money to survive. The situation was dire, and Lencho could not afford to wait.
By writing the letter on Sunday, Lencho demonstrated that his need for help was immediate. Even though Sunday is typically a day of rest, Lencho’s desperation overshadowed tradition. His family’s survival depended on swift action, and he believed that God’s intervention could not be delayed.
4. Strengthening the Appeal to God
Lencho’s decision to write on Sunday also reflects his belief that God would be more receptive to prayers and requests on a holy day. In many religious traditions, Sunday is considered a day when prayers hold special significance. Lencho might have believed that communicating with God on this day would increase the chances of his request being granted.
For Lencho, God was not a distant entity but someone who would listen to him personally. Writing the letter on Sunday gave emotional weight to his appeal, as it aligned with his belief in God’s compassion and justice.
5. Symbolism of Sunday in the Story
Sunday, in the context of “A Letter to God”, represents more than just a day of the week. It symbolizes:
- Faith and devotion: A time when believers connect with the divine.
- Hope and new beginnings: Sunday often marks the start of a new week, and for Lencho, it symbolized the hope for a fresh start after the disaster.
- Resilience: Despite losing everything, Lencho chose a day associated with renewal to express his hope for recovery.
By choosing Sunday, the author emphasizes Lencho’s strong connection with his faith and his belief that help would surely come from God.
6. The Broader Message Behind Lencho’s Decision
Lencho’s decision to write on Sunday reveals several universal truths:
- Faith drives action: Lencho believed so deeply in God’s goodness that he didn’t hesitate to act immediately.
- Hope emerges in times of despair: Even after losing everything, Lencho chose to reach out to God, believing that better days were possible.
- Spirituality offers strength: Sunday, being a day of worship, provided Lencho with the spiritual courage to face his troubles.
7. What Happened After Lencho Wrote the Letter?
Lencho’s letter, written with pure faith, asked God for one hundred pesos to help him replant his fields and feed his family. The letter reached the postmaster, who was initially amused but later moved by Lencho’s unshakable belief. The postmaster and his colleagues collected seventy pesos and sent it to Lencho anonymously.
Ironically, when Lencho received the money, he became angry, believing that the postal employees had stolen the remaining thirty pesos. He wrote a second letter to God, asking not to send the money through the post office again, accusing the employees of being “a bunch of crooks.”
This ironic twist adds depth to Lencho’s innocent yet complex faith, showing how belief in divine power can sometimes overshadow trust in human kindness.
Conclusion
Lencho wrote his letter to God on Sunday because the day represented faith, reflection, and spiritual connection. For Lencho, Sunday was the most appropriate time to reach out to God, as it symbolized hope, devotion, and the chance for new beginnings.
His decision also reflected the urgency of his situation, as his family faced imminent starvation. Lencho’s unwavering belief that God would not abandon him highlights the story’s central theme: faith gives people the strength to hope, even in the face of total despair.
Ultimately, “A Letter to God” teaches readers that faith can inspire action, but it also reminds us that sometimes, divine help comes through human hands—a truth Lencho, despite his strong faith, could not fully recognize.
Rahul Kumar is a passionate educator, writer, and subject matter expert in the field of education and professional development. As an author on CoursesXpert, Rahul Kumar’s articles cover a wide range of topics, from various courses, educational and career guidance.
