A Letter To A Friend

There is a particular couple I have known in Arizona for years. I was friends with them prior to my ex-boyfriend’s attempt at taking my life. And they were the only two (who live in Arizona) who knew my then boyfriend and stuck by my side and supported me. Everyone else left, didn’t seem to care, or blatantly took his side. Let’s call them David and Sara. David and Sara have both made efforts to stay in touch with me since moving away and are very special to me. David is an army combat veteran. He has had, and continues to have, numerous challenges that come with experiencing war firsthand. Physical, mental, and emotional pain, often too insurmountable to face by himself. Sara, his wife, has supported him through it all. Often making sacrifices of her own to make sure he is taken care of. They are both amazing individuals who I look up to. Recently, Sara reached out to me and shared that this time of year is particularly difficult for them. They were struggling. It was the anniversary of David’s aunt’s passing whom he was close to all his life, coupled with the usual “holiday” gloominess that accompanies people who suffer in this way. I got on a video chat with them both and afterwards had the undeniable prompting to write them the following letter accompanied by a book.

David and Sara,

Now, before you say, think, or do anything: I want you to at least read this letter in its entirety. After, you have the freedom to do whatever you please. You can throw this letter and the book away, you can put them somewhere and never look at them again, or you can read them both. I want you to know that whatever you choose will not affect our friendship. I will always love and respect you both no matter what. It is because of that love and respect I am sending you this book and its accompanying letter.

Recently, we had a lengthy video chat and you both commented on how well it appeared I was doing (physically, mentally, and emotionally) in comparison to where you both know I have been previously. You both remarked on the change you could physically see in my countenance. You expressed your happiness for me, and I greatly appreciate and love that you both have cared and continue to care enough for me that way. I want you both (David especially) to know that your hard work and the changes you have strived to make have not gone unnoticed on my end either and am so very proud of the both of you and how far you have come and encourage you to keep going. I will support you both in this journey no matter what. KEEP TRYING!

Now, I could not consider myself a good friend if I did not share this with you. Because I only want the best for you, it would be outright selfish of me, to not give you my ‘why’ behind the change. The reason behind my happiness. And the source of all the many blessings I have received these last few years. I could not allow myself to sit idly by and watch two people I care so much for, go on with life and not, at the very least, share what I have learned.

I don’t know if I have ever shared this with you guys, but the night Rich almost killed me, I was saved. Not by any person passing by, not by me pleading “don’t do this”, and Rich didn’t just change his mind. No, when Rich came to the ICU to confess what he had done, he told me the only reason I was still alive was “because God told him to stop”.

Why?

I don’t know the answer to that question yet. I am still trying to figure that one out. But with that new truth, I started looking for God again. If He thought I was important enough to intervene and save my life, then I at least owed it to Him to find Him. And I did. In this book. I am not kidding when I say that this book LITERALLY changed my life around. I stopped caring about the past. I stopped participating in activities that were harmful. As I said in our conversation a while back, I haven’t done anything, not even had a sip of alcohol, in over six years. I haven’t even missed it or wanted it. At all. All my emotional pain, anxiety, depression, and even anger, were swallowed up in this book. I can tell you exactly why. This book contains truths about Christ and our Heavenly Father that cannot be found anywhere else. It truly is a remarkable piece of literature. It is a literal account of ancient people who lived right here, in the Americas, who got to see and meet the resurrected Christ. It’s beautiful! And it is life changing. I never want to go back! I hold these truths closest to my heart.

So, I invite you to read it. I don’t care if it takes you 10 years. It took me a LONG time to actually sit and read it cover to cover, but once I did, that was when I noticed my life changing. I started to see light in my life again. And the blessings started coming. It was like God had been waiting patiently for me to come to Him and had all these things, GOOD THINGS, ready to give me.

I am not asking you to be baptized, meet with missionaries, or even go to church. I am simply asking that you give this book a chance. And by doing so, give you both a chance to experience what I did. Pure, unfeigned, genuine joy. I promise you that is what you will find here.

As I said before, the choice is yours. I mean it when I say that whatever choice you make will not affect our friendship. I will love, care, and support you both no matter what. I promise not to be weird when you talk to me 😉 and I certainly will not pressure you both into doing anything that makes you uncomfortable. I do hope to hear from you soon. I am always available to talk…about anything. No judgment, only love here. And if you have ANY questions, about ANYTHING, I hope you won’t be afraid to ask me. Nothing is too small, too stupid, or not worth my time. It will always be important to me. You are worth my time.

Miss and love you both always,

Sammi

Next, is a single mom who I think highly of. Let’s call her Stephanie. Stephanie, I met while attending and working at my college in Phoenix. She has always found reasons to reach out and tell me she loves me and misses me. She has also had her fair share of challenges in this life. Divorced from an abusive husband, she has a daughter who is a recovering alcoholic that has attempted to take her own life on more than one occasion. She has recently lost a brother who meant the world to her. These wounds cut deep because she loves those around her wholeheartedly, especially her children and her brother. Somehow, she remains positive and continues to press on and spread love to those around her. After seeing her admire a wreath I had made and shared online, she asked if I would make her a Mickey one for commission. She and her daughters are avid Disney fans. I told her I would make her wreath, but that I wouldn’t accept payment. She deserved this tiny bit of happiness a Mickey shaped wreath could potentially bring her and her girls. It was after the wreath was assembled that I again knew I needed to write yet another letter and send another book.  

Stephanie,

I have thought of a way you could potentially “pay me back” for the wreath. And I am so sorry it has taken me so long to send it to you! I knew that I wanted to send it with this letter and this book and wanted to make sure I had the right words before doing anything! To be honest, you being my friend over the years and caring for me is payment enough. BUT if you wanted to do something for me, you could read this letter, and then read the book. That would be more than enough for me.

I have been greatly blessed in recent years: I was able to marry my sweetheart, bring a sweet spirit into this world and raise her as my daughter. I have a beautiful home with my loving family. I have people surrounding me who love and support me daily. I have food to eat, water to drink, and want for nothing materialistically or otherwise, and I have something else. Something that I value more than anything I have just mentioned.

I have this book. And the truths that it contains. This book is what LITERALLY changed my life and not only helped me see the good but is the source of many blessings over the years. I don’t doubt for a second, that this book and the gospel it teaches is what inevitably brought me to my Savior. I have never known Him as I do now. Nor our Father in Heaven. I can honestly say that I now have the best relationship with them both, more than I ever have in my life.

I know you love Jesus. I know you love God. But I want to ask you to consider that love and the love I have for you and give this book a chance. I could no longer sit idly by and not share with you what I have learned about Jesus and our Father. They are real. They love you and I with an eternal, perfect love that no one on earth can comprehend. And you will feel that love as you read this book. That is a promise!

I don’t care if it takes you a week, a year, or even 10 years to read it. It took me a long time to read it cover to cover, but once I did, that’s when I noticed my life changing, when I noticed ME changing. It was as if God had been patiently waiting to share with me His light. And His light will never dim, Stephanie. It is everywhere because it is within us if we let Him into our hearts.

I am not asking you to be baptized, meet with missionaries, or even go to church. I am simply asking that you give this book a chance. And by doing so, give yourself the chance to experience what I did. Pure, unfeigned, genuine joy. That is what you will find here.

The choice is yours. I promise you that whatever choice you make will not affect our friendship. I will always see you as the beautiful person you are, inside and out. I will always love, care, support, and respect you in anything. And I certainly will not pressure you into doing anything that makes you uncomfortable.  I hope to hear from you soon! I want to make sure you received your package okay and got my letter. 😊 If you have ANY questions, about ANYTHING, I hope you won’t be afraid to ask me (or my dad for that matter 😉) because nothing is too small, too stupid, or not worth our time. It will always be important to us; you are worth our time.

Miss and love you always,

Sammi

I am not sharing this for praise or to place myself on a pedestal. I am sharing this as a means of keeping myself accountable. Too often in the past I have ignored the gentle (or in this case the less gentle) nudges from the Spirit of our Heavenly Father. I have made it a goal of mine to act, and quickly, and do what I feel I need to do. I can no longer pray for opportunities to be an instrument in God’s hands and then ignore the chances I have been given, by Him, to do just that. God works in mysterious ways, right? Not really. He knows our hearts, minds, and situations. He is aware of each and every one of His children and their circumstances right now. He also knows exactly what each individual is in need of. But he needs our help. He needs us to step up and act in His place to attend to the needs of others. To be the answer to their prayers. Don’t question His methods, His reasonings, or His judgement. For it is all perfect. All that is required of us is trust in Him and miracles will happen. I’ve seen it happen when earthly angels have acted and been the answer to my prayers or those of my loved ones.

I do not know if any “miracle” will come from my letters. What I do know is that I can feel good knowing that I acted on it. Even the Redwoods started as the tiniest of seeds. So, who knows, maybe I will receive an answer to my letter. I would hope I get to see the “fruit of my labors” in this life. Regardless, I will choose to act on faith and let the miracle worker, master healer, and master physician do His work.

**If you are curious to know what book I shared with my dear friends, please reach out, I would be delighted to share and send one to you!**

Thanks for stopping by. Know that you are loved.