The Apple of His Eye..Part II

I handed him the letter and walked downstairs. I remember the feeling in my stomach as I sat among the people in the cafeteria. There was no way I could eat or drink anything. I sat and I prayed. I prayed that my Dad would finally make a decision for Christ. I prayed that the Lord would heal him of whatever was making him so ill. I prayed that the Lord would give me many more years with my Dad. I prayed God's ultimate will to be done...because I knew...that no matter what, God had what was best in store for my Dad.

Twenty minutes seemed like eternity to me...meanwhile upstairs...eternity was beginning to be set in motion for my Dad. Here is the letter that I wrote to him 15 years ago:

June 1, 1995

Dear Daddy,

Do you know how much I love you? I love you so much that when we begin to talk about it we both begin to cry--it never fails. I don’t honestly think anyone can love you like I do!! I want you to know that I believe beyond a shadow of a doubt that God is in control. You realize, I hope, that it was God and God alone that saved you back in November, and once again I am trusting in God to save you again. I trust the Lord Jesus, Daddy, He has brought us through so much. Do you ever wonder how I turned out the way I did? You know, you and Pat were placed in my life by God to save me from a life of pain and suffering. Many people hear my life story and are amazed that I turned out the way I did. But I always tell people that when I was in 2nd grade, I was staying with my Dad and Pat and they sent me to Bible Camp (Camp Shadyrest) in the summer. I learned at camp that Jesus Christ died for my sins, and that all I had to do was to ask Jesus to come into my heart and forgive me of my sins and He would do just that. I learned that that was the only way I would get to heaven. So, I did Dad. I ask Jesus into my heart and He forgave me of my sins, and now I know I will spend eternal life with Jesus in heaven. If it wasn’t for you and Pat, I would not have done that then.

Daddy, that is the best feeling ya know! Knowing how much Jesus loves me and that someday I am going to go to heaven. Dad, I love you so much, I want you to have that same assurance. I know there is only one way to heaven - and that is just by asking Jesus to come into your life and to forgive you of your sins. Dad, I know you, you are a wonderful person. You’ve never done anything that you probably see as sin. But the fact is that we are all born in sin. The Bible says in Romans 3:23 “all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God.” That means that I was a sinner, even when I was 7 years old. That is why Jesus died. In John 3:16 the bible says “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life.” That is why God sent Jesus to this earth, so that He could die for us and for our sin and we would have a chance to go to heaven. One more verse -- Romans 6:23 “The wages of sin is death; but the GIFT of God is Eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” All you have to do is ASK, it is a free gift from God. He wants us to go to heaven, but He is so fair that he leaves us with the choice. I know you want someday to go to heaven Dad, and I am going to show you just how easy it is to do just that. It is not hard Dad, all it takes is asking. Jesus will help you live a life that is pleasing to Him. He already loves you so much Daddy! I’m sure you can see that. He saved your life, and now, as I am praying for you, I know He wants to save your life forever!!

Ask yourself these questions:

1. Do I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God?
2. Do I believe that Jesus Christ was sent by God to die for our sins, and that He in fact died on the cross and shed His blood for me?
3. Do I believe that I am a sinner?

If you can honestly say yes to those three questions than you can be saved Dad! You can be saved!! Just pray a simple prayer: it can go something like this:

Dear Lord, I know that I am a sinner and I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. I also believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for me and my sin, just so that I can have eternal life. I want eternal life. Jesus, please come into my heart today just as I am, and take away all of my sin. I love you Jesus, and I thank you for saving my life!

It is that easy dad!

If you say this prayer or one similar and you really mean it, God will do what
He promises and give you Eternal Life in Heaven.

Dad, I wrote this to you, because I love you more than words could ever express, and I want to know that we will always, and I mean always be together eternally!

If after you read this letter, and you want to say that prayer let me know. I don’t need to be there to pray with you, but I would love to if you want. I would be more
than happy to see my daddy accept Jesus as his savior!!

Love always,

Me ♥

You know that song that you love so much, the one you hear when Billy Graham is on TV. That is just what I have been trying to say in this letter.

"Just as I am without one plea, but by thy blood was shed for me!"

When I returned to my Dad's room exactly 20 minutes later...I found my Daddy, the man who fought for me, who always made me feel like I was the most beautiful, most intelligent, most delighted in child in the universe...the man that loved me so much and never had a problem showing it...there he was sitting up in his bed with the letter in his hands and tears all over his face. Soaked with tears...he saw me...waved his hand at me to sit by him. I remember taking a tissue to his face to wipe away his tears and a memory had flooded me. (The memory of when I was 4 or 5 years old...as my Dad left my Mom, I did the exact same thing for her..took a tissue and wiped her tears. ) My parents were goodwilled people, but they were broken. It was an honor to be there for both of them, even though I'm sure, at the time, I had no idea what an honor it really was! Filled with emotion myself, neither one of us could talk for a moment. Then I asked about the letter.

Come back tomorrow for the conclusion.