The Letter

Good morning precious friends, brothers and sisters,

I’ve been struggling with some things lately and I’d like to share this with you if you don’t mind.

A few weeks ago, I watched a movie and in this movie the mother had died but she had written letters and left them in various places she knew each child would find. I thought how wonderful that would be and I wished that my mom had left a letter for us and I would like to do that for my children. Then I thought, oh well what better message could mom have left us than the way she lived her life. Still, it would have been nice. So, I picked up her Bible and read it, but no letters were there. I wondered if maybe she had written something in some of her other journals, but I’ve gone through all of them and didn’t find anything for us personally.

I have not felt very good lately, physically and emotionally. Missing my mom and my family it’s really difficult at times especially when you are growing older, and time seems to fly by so quickly and yet at times as if it is standing still. But you know what? God hears us even when we whisper the simplest request…

Over the last four days I began having heart palpitations and so very tired, so on the third day I went to see the doctor. He said it wasn’t life threatening and he would order a heart monitor and we’d go from there. I have been sleeping a lot because I just don’t have any energy. This morning I woke and felt stronger, I know prayers have been going up for me. God is faithful.

So, I ate some breakfast, let me back up a minute. About a month ago the Holy Spirit spoke to my spirit and instructed me to read from the Bible the Epistles; I read some and then got distracted. This morning He reminded me to go back and keep reading the Epistles. I decided to read from a Bible called Women of Faith Study Bible, I had not read from it in years. I read my Spirit Filled Bible, but it was by my bed.

I read the book of 2 Peter and onto 1John when some papers fell out of the back of the Bible. It was an email from November 2007, which my sister Barbara had sent to me when I was working. I guess I had tucked it in my Bible. It was about being an old person. I noticed there was something handwritten on the back and so I opened and read…

Dear Marla,

By mistake Clyde brought your Bible up here to the hospital thinking it was mine. Today is Feb. 26, 2010, the anniversary of Mama’s passing, this note reminded me of her and the way she thought. It brought a little tug at my heart, but peace too. Because I know someday, I will be gone too. But not forgotten. The last phrase got to me, like not wasting time about the past. Like Sister Nora always says, “flush it” Please forgive me for writing on your letter, but I need to tell you that you and Barbara mean the world to me, and I’ve always been proud of you. May God bless you with Wisdom and Understanding and Much Peace. Know too that there are not perfect people “only forgiven.” With God’s mercy and help we will make it.

In your Bible I read this written by:

Alice Cary-1820-1871

There are briers besetting every path,

Which call for patient care;

There is a cross in every lot,

And in need of earnest prayer,

But a humble heart that leans on the Lord

Is happy anywhere!

Love you darling girl be happy!

It was a message especially for me from my mom. It was no mistake. I burst out crying because God had heard my heart’s desire and just when I needed my mom the most there, she was telling me to be happy.

You cannot tell me there is no God. You cannot tell me he doesn’t answer prayer…too many times…he’s spoken to me and shown me his grace and love and help. Even to give me a simple letter from my mother who has since gone to heaven July will be two years. It was no mistake that I picked up that Bible. God knew the letter was there and he had wanted me to find it and today as I obeyed his prompting his precious gift was there waiting for me.

Tears are flowing, tears of joy because mom had left me a special letter after all these years it was there waiting for me to find it on this day when I needed her encouragement and love. No, she will never be forgotten…I love you mom! And God, I love you beyond life!!! Thank you! Amen.

~Marla Shaw O’Neill June 29, 2021

Habakkuk 2:1-3 New King James Version

The Just Shall Live by Faith

2 I will stand my watch And set myself on the rampart, And watch to see what He will say to me, And what I will answer when I am corrected.

The Just Live by Faith

² Then the Lord answered me and said:

“Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it. ³ For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.