The Dog Ate My Homework

I wish I could blame it on the dog, but really it's just my tendency to procrastinate and procrastinate I did...Big Time. Several months ago, our pastor gave us a homework assignment. The assignment was to write a letter to the person responsible for bringing us to Jesus.

I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior and was baptized when I was in high school. Reflecting on my baptism, I remember a feeling of great love. Not just a love for God , but a love for everyone I laid my eyes on. I didn't, however, grasp the magnitude of the gift I had just received and my baptism did not mark the beginning of a long walk with God, but was treated more like a fait accompli.

When I went away to college, I failed to find a church home or connect myself with a body of believers and without a steady dose of the Truth, my un-nurtured faith really took a pounding. By the time I graduated, my relationship with God was practically nonexistent, at least for my part.

My God never quit loving me. He was patiently waiting for His prodigal daughter to come home and I have my aunt to thank for gently leading me back. So, here is my terribly past due homework assignment:

Dear Niecy,

Thank you for inviting me to come stay with you for a week in July 2000. I really enjoyed the birthday party that you, Cameron and I shared at Thompson Park. I cherish the time I was able to spend with you and Granny. But most of all, I want to thank you for the conversation we had when you were driving me to meet Chris at the halfway point. We talked about how God works everything for the good, even terrible tragedies. And about how you either believe what the Bible says or you don't. You can't pick and choose to suit your preferences. That conversation sparked a lot of thinking and soul searching on my part. All of those years out of church, left me making up my own rules. I finally had to ask myself: "Do you believe in God? Yes. If you believe in the one true God that created the heavens and earth, don't you think He deserves to make the rules, even if those rules seem unfair to your simple little human mind? Well, when you put it that way..." That marked the beginning of my journey back. Thank you.

Fast forward 3 1/2 years. My family had moved to your town and Abigail was 2 1/2 years old. I wanted my daughter to grow up in a church. Nicole and Terry invited me to go with them, but when they moved on, I was left taking Abigail to church by myself. I felt like such an outsider, but I was determined to keep going for her. Then you and I started going together and I actually started enjoying church. Thank you.

And then there was the Sunday morning when it started to sink in: the awesomeness of God's grace. I was overcome by how absolutely undeserving I am and you were there to hand me a tissue. Thank you.

And when I was pregnant with Rebecca and we feared she had microcephaly. I felt like my world was crashing down on my head and you just appeared on my doorstep. There wasn't another person in the whole world I needed more than you at that moment. God used you to give comfort and tell me what I needed to hear. Thank you.

You are the one person I feel comfortable talking to about my spiritual struggles and triumphs. I know I can ask you questions and you won't make me feel stupid or judge me. You patiently allow me to ramble on when I get excited about the truly amazing things God is doing. For all these things, I thank you.

And thank you for the privilege of teaching a Sunday school class with you. This is an answer to a prayer. You are so good with these children and I know I will learn a lot from you, but I pray that I will also be a blessing to you in some way and that you will derive great joy from this experience.

Niecy, there are so many things to thank you for. You do so much and are such a blessing to me and my whole family. I think I could write a never-ending letter, but the most wonderful thing you have done for me is to bring me to Jesus and for that I will be eternally thankful.

I love you. -k