At a Family Dinner early in 2011, the conversation turned to "Have you ever written a letter to a celebrity?" Everyone got a huge laugh when I confessed that I had actually written to an infamous person. A few days later, I sent them this letter as a "God only" kind of follow-up. I found the letter and the news article I referenced in the letter ( aol news 3/02/2011) as I was sorting files today. It encouraged me all over again, and I wanted to share it with you. Maybe someone will read this, and follow one of the strange sounding promptings of God, and get blessed, too. You were BORN for God to use you, you know!
Family,
You know that at dinner, we all laughed about writing letters to celebrities. I got a HUGE laugh because I had written to Sirhan-Sirhan, the man who assassinated Robert F. Kennedy on June 4, 1968. Just to reprise my story, I loved RFK, was in 10th grade when he died, and was devastated not only by his death, but by the future of the young Jordanian who killed him.He was sentenced to death, but it was commuted. I pictured his despair and isolation, and his eternal destiny. I wrote Sirhan about his relationship with God, the possibility of forgiveness, and shared that even though the whole world seemed to hate him, there was forgiveness and peace through Jesus Christ. The few who knew I wrote him teased me, and assured me I would never hear from that letter. Of course, they were right. I never heard back from him, but for a long, long time I prayed for him every single day.
This is 43 years after that day. The day a 15 year old girl obeyed what seemed like a ridiculous thought to write and to pray for him. I don't even know that he ever got to read my letter--that's not the important thing. What is important is that I responded to what God spoke to my heart. The news today says that he came up for parole again yesterday--once again denied. He has been in solitary confinement because of the hate crimes threatened against him (he used to be a Muslim). Anyways, the article says he feels extreme remorse and regret for what he did, but
"Sirhan, his hair graying and missing one tooth in the front of his mouth, appeared cheerful as he entered the hearing room. He bid the commissioners "good afternoon" and was talkative during the hearing, telling commissioners he is a practicing Christian who attends services every Sunday."
Can I tell you that my heart leaped and I felt like running around the church shouting?????????? I am sitting here, tears streaming down my face. God is SO good, So faithful! Those prayers-- that letter was just the tiniest of little POTS that I set out in obedience to the tug of the Spirit of God, and HE DID THE REST!!!! I don't know how many people have played a part in praying for Sirhan, or who got the credit for being the one who helped him across the line. BUT GOD DID IT!!!!!! God never was obligated to let me know...but how GOOD of the Father to make sure I knew that what I did mattered. I am SO encouraged today to obey Jesus in every SINGLE way.
I am writing this to you, not to be "vindicated" in any way for doing something that looked foolish--I agree, it was hilarious and really naive that I did! :-) BUT, I am writing to tell you to "set out all your pots"-- do every little tiny thing God impresses on you. Who knows when and how God will do something and you will be part of it if you obey? Even if we never know what God did with our obedience, He PROMISES He will come through!
When I was a kid we used to sing a song that had these words in it:
Every work for Jesus will be blessed.
But He asks from everyone His best.
Our talents may be few--they may be small.
But unto Him is due our best, our all.
So, I am writing to tell you---put it out there. You all have such great abilities and gifts. I KNOW God speaks to you. I know He has great confidence in you. What God wants to do in and through your lives will amaze you. I know you will far surpass what has happened in my 58 years if you just PUT IT OUT THERE.
Do it.
I love you all so much.
Mom
Family,
You know that at dinner, we all laughed about writing letters to celebrities. I got a HUGE laugh because I had written to Sirhan-Sirhan, the man who assassinated Robert F. Kennedy on June 4, 1968. Just to reprise my story, I loved RFK, was in 10th grade when he died, and was devastated not only by his death, but by the future of the young Jordanian who killed him.He was sentenced to death, but it was commuted. I pictured his despair and isolation, and his eternal destiny. I wrote Sirhan about his relationship with God, the possibility of forgiveness, and shared that even though the whole world seemed to hate him, there was forgiveness and peace through Jesus Christ. The few who knew I wrote him teased me, and assured me I would never hear from that letter. Of course, they were right. I never heard back from him, but for a long, long time I prayed for him every single day.
This is 43 years after that day. The day a 15 year old girl obeyed what seemed like a ridiculous thought to write and to pray for him. I don't even know that he ever got to read my letter--that's not the important thing. What is important is that I responded to what God spoke to my heart. The news today says that he came up for parole again yesterday--once again denied. He has been in solitary confinement because of the hate crimes threatened against him (he used to be a Muslim). Anyways, the article says he feels extreme remorse and regret for what he did, but
"Sirhan, his hair graying and missing one tooth in the front of his mouth, appeared cheerful as he entered the hearing room. He bid the commissioners "good afternoon" and was talkative during the hearing, telling commissioners he is a practicing Christian who attends services every Sunday."
Can I tell you that my heart leaped and I felt like running around the church shouting?????????? I am sitting here, tears streaming down my face. God is SO good, So faithful! Those prayers-- that letter was just the tiniest of little POTS that I set out in obedience to the tug of the Spirit of God, and HE DID THE REST!!!! I don't know how many people have played a part in praying for Sirhan, or who got the credit for being the one who helped him across the line. BUT GOD DID IT!!!!!! God never was obligated to let me know...but how GOOD of the Father to make sure I knew that what I did mattered. I am SO encouraged today to obey Jesus in every SINGLE way.
I am writing this to you, not to be "vindicated" in any way for doing something that looked foolish--I agree, it was hilarious and really naive that I did! :-) BUT, I am writing to tell you to "set out all your pots"-- do every little tiny thing God impresses on you. Who knows when and how God will do something and you will be part of it if you obey? Even if we never know what God did with our obedience, He PROMISES He will come through!
When I was a kid we used to sing a song that had these words in it:
Every work for Jesus will be blessed.
But He asks from everyone His best.
Our talents may be few--they may be small.
But unto Him is due our best, our all.
So, I am writing to tell you---put it out there. You all have such great abilities and gifts. I KNOW God speaks to you. I know He has great confidence in you. What God wants to do in and through your lives will amaze you. I know you will far surpass what has happened in my 58 years if you just PUT IT OUT THERE.
Do it.
I love you all so much.
Mom
No comments:
Post a Comment