Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds. These words are chiseled above the entrance to the New York City Post Office on 8th Avenue, opened in 1914. Taken from the Persians, it is often believed that this is the motto of the USPS. However, there is another less known motto that says so much more.
Inscribed on what was the Washington, D.C., Post Office and now is the home of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Postal Museum located on Massachusetts Avenue and North Capitol Street, N.E. are words describing the courier.
Messenger of Sympathy and Love
Servant of Parted Friends
Consoler of the Lonely
Bond of the Scattered Family
Enlarger of the Common Life
Carrier of News and Knowledge
Instrument of Trade and Industry
Promoter of Mutual Acquaintance
Of Peace and of Goodwill Among Men and Nations.1
Today is National Thank A Mail Carrier Day. It’s a day to recognize the men and women
who have carried letters and parcels to our door on days when we wouldn’t venture outside if our life depended on it. Unfortunately, things have changed in our world and most of us don’t even know the names of our mail carrier. I have to confess that I don’t know ours. We’ve had at least two near carriers since the last one I knew by name.
The postal service has been with us since it was established in 1775. For the past 251 years, it has remained a constant in our nation with Ben Franklin creating many of the methods we still use today. Postage stamps made their debut in 1847. In 1860, mail delivery got a bit faster with the Pony Express. By 1863, mail delivery started in the cities and by 1896, it came to the rural community. And in 1963, the Zip Code system began.2
On April 12, 2007, the Forever Stamp was introduced for $.41/stamp. As of July 13, 2025, stamp prices increased to $.78/stamp. If we had known that there would have been 13 price hikes between 2007 to 2025, we would have been smart to have invested in a LOT of stamps in 2007.
Suppose you had purchased 10,000 rolls of the original Forever Stamps. It would have cost $410,000. But, if you sold them through the years for the going price, you would have gotten a great return. Your $410,000 investment would have turned into $780,000 if you sold them all today. That’s a 90.25% increase in 18 years!!! I don’t believe annuity funds are paying that well!
If you had $410,000 to play with and did nothing with it, you would still have $410,000 today. However, it would only be worth $264,053.64, a deflation of -35.6%.
Anyway, let’s get back to the mail carriers. Today is a day to THANK them. If at all possible, meet them at the door or at the mailbox and thank them for their service. If that’s not possible, you could always slip a card in the mailbox addressed to them. If you don’t know their name, simply put, “To our faithful mail carrier.”
Though not explicitly stated, it’s obvious that Paul utilized a mail carrier system, of sorts. Different individuals would deliver his letters and return with news of how the people responded. For instance, it is only logical to assume that Tychicus was one of those couriers. Ephesians 6:21-22 says, “But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things: (22) Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts.” Paul didn’t take the letter personally. He sent Tychicus to find out how they were doing, provide comfort, and to take them the latest letter from Paul.
One of the clearest examples of Paul’s couriers is found in Philippians 2:24-25. “But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly. (25) Yet I supposed it necessary 
to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.” He delivered the letter to the church of Philippi, received encouragement and comfort from the church, then returned to Paul to tell him how the people were doing.
Others have been identified as plausible couriers: Stephanus, Fortunatus and Achaicus (1 Corinthians 16:17- 18); Titus, with two others (2 Corinthians 8:16- 24); Phoebe (Romans 16:1-2); Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:25-30); Tychicus, with Onesimus (Colossians 4:7-9); Tychicus (Ephesians 6:21-22), and probably Onesimus (Philemon 8-16).3
While we can’t deliver the letters of the Apostles as was done in Bible days, there is a sense in which we can still have a part in God’s postal service. Let’s put Romans 10:14-15 into practice today.
“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? (15) And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”
1https://about.usps.com/who/profile/history/pdf/mission-motto.pdf
2https://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/national-day/national-thank-a-mailman-day-february-4
3https://tyndalehouse.com/2020/07/31/who-carried-the-epistles/
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