[Faith-talk] Daily Thought for Wednesday, January 22, 2014

[Paul]

Yes, and I bet you'll be with the NFB Washington Seminar, right? Hope you 
have a good time there.  Paul
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "sheila" <sleigland at bresnan.net>
To: "Faith-talk,for the discussion of faith and religion" 
<faith-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, January 22, 2014 2:55 PM
Subject: Re: [Faith-talk] Daily Thought for Wednesday, January 22, 2014


> hi, nice article. Aren't you in Baltimore? I'm coming to washington d.c. 
> on sunday so I'm hoping the weather will cooperate. blessings.
> On 1/22/2014 12:48 PM, Paul wrote:
>> Well folks, I'm staying in today because of the slipperiness of walking 
>> on my front porch.  I've never seen it as treacherous out there, and I've 
>> lived here for over 40 years.  So, in order to prevent any accident, I'm 
>> staying put at least through today.
>>
>> The article I wish to share with you now was written some years ago by 
>> Muriel Larson, a writer from South Carolina, and the title of her piece 
>> is "Heal a Relationship," rendered as follows:
>>
>> "I guess all my life I longed for my dad's approval," Cheryl told me, 
>> "and I never felt I had it.  He never hugged or kissed me or told me he 
>> loved me.  Often I hoped for a word of commendation when I did something 
>> good, but I never received one."
>>
>> Cheryl was in her 30's when she wrote a letter to her father telling him 
>> how she felt.  "What do I have to do to get your approval?" was the most 
>> important question she asked in the lengthy letter she prayerfully and 
>> lovingly composed.  After reading it over, she dropped it off at her 
>> parents' home.
>>
>> About an hour later she heard the doorbell chime in her apartment.  When 
>> she went to answer, she found her father standing there.  For the first 
>> time in his life he hugged his daughter tightly and kissed her.  "I do 
>> love you, honey," he said shakily.  "I really do love you!"
>>
>> For 10 minutes father and daughter could only weep.  "That was the first 
>> time I ever saw my dad cry," Cheryl said, "the first time he had ever 
>> hugged or kissed me or told me he loved me.  You can't imagine the joy 
>> that flooded my heart that day!" According to Cheryl, that was the 
>> beginning of a new life, not only for her and her father but also for her 
>> entire family.
>>
>> How many parents and children are estranged because they don't understand 
>> one another? Unfortunately, many people seem unable to express their 
>> feelings and may be misunderstood by those closest to them.  In some 
>> cases, an artificial barrier may be erected and stand between family 
>> members for years.  Although Cheryl lived in the same city as her 
>> parents, she couldn't bring herself to talk directly to her dad about 
>> their differences.  A letter did what she couldn't seem to do in person.
>>
>> At least three types of people may be reading this article:  those who, 
>> like Cheryl, have longed for the love and approval of some family member; 
>> those who are estranged in some way from a loved one; and those who, for 
>> some reason, cannot adequately show their love and affection.  If you're 
>> one of these people, here are some tips on writing a reconciliation 
>> letter.
>>
>> _Pray _first.  When we have been hurting for years because of a seemingly 
>> estranged relationship, it's easy to get bogged down in self-pity.  We 
>> definitely need the Lord's guidance in writing a letter like this.  Pray 
>> that the Lord will lay on your heart just what you should and shouldn't 
>> write.  Pray also for the one to whom you write that the Lord will work 
>> in his or her heart and will use that letter for God's purpose and glory.
>>
>> _Write _with _care.  You're going to have to be explicit about some 
>> things, perhaps mentioning particular areas of estrangement or 
>> misunderstanding.  Whatever is written must be done in a spirit of love 
>> and humility, along with a willingness to confess where you may have 
>> erred.  Remember that you're expressing sorrow for a rift and asking 
>> forgiveness for anything for anything you might have said or done that 
>> contributed to the breach.
>>
>> _Wait.  After you write the letter, put it aside for a night and read it 
>> over the next day.  If anything you have written troubles you, consider 
>> what you really want to include.  Remember, you don't want to hurt, you 
>> want to heal.  Mail your letter only after prayerful consideration of its 
>> message.
>>
>> Just as Cheryl's letter opened doors to love, freedom of expression, and 
>> closer relationships to loved ones and to God, you may accomplish the 
>> same thing in your family by writing a letter.  Here's hoping.
>>
>> And there you have Muriel's article for today.  If you yourself are going 
>> through a similar situation as Cheryl did, I hope that it ministered to 
>> you today.
>>
>> And now may the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob just keep us safe, 
>> individually and collectively, in these last days in which we live.  Lord 
>> willing, tomorrow there will be another Daily Thought message for you. 
>> Your Christian friend and brother, Paul
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>
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