MY FATHER'S EYES....part three

Thank you for joining me as I share my grateful heart on this THANKFUL THURSDAY. Today, I am thankful for the difficulties, for the trials, for the heartbreak and I am thankful for broken relationships. Without them, I would not be the person that I am today! I would not cling to the Cross like I do! I would not understand Gods Grace, His love and His forgiveness. I am so grateful for the good that my God has brought out of every situation in my life. Instead of asking why...today I am asking God to be glorified in it all!

Today, I am continuing my personal story of forgiveness and restoration, this is part 3. Be sure to read PART ONE and PART TWO. God restored a broken relationship with my birth father after 40 years of separation. It gives me great joy to give this report of great victory....
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On the morning of December 23rd, an elderly couple sat at their kitchen table in the small apartment they shared in sunny Florida. They anticipated this Christmas to be a very special time of family time and memories. As they sat sipping their morning coffee and shuffling through the morning mail, they came across a Christmas Card with an unknown return address. Martha asked her husband Larry if he knew anyone from Arkansas? He replied "No, I can't think of anyone". Martha put the card aside, and continued on to the other mail. Curiosity got the best of her as she came back to the card and opened it up. Inside the card was a picture of a family. "Well, this sure is a lovely family. Wish I knew who they were". "Do you recognize any of them, Larry?" Martha asked Larry. Larry said, "No."

This truly would be a special Christmas for Larry and Martha as they begin to read the letter that was included in this Christmas card from the unknown family in Arkansas:

December 19, 2004

Dear Larry and Martha;

Hello. My name is Laurie. You may not know me but you may remember me as Laurie xxxxxxx. I was born 41 years ago to Loren and Judith xxxxxxxx.

I have spent a good part of my life wondering about my natural father. What he looks like, what interests in life he has. I wonder if he has wondered the same about me? I am not getting younger and the older I get the more I realize that life sometimes brings regrets and that is the purpose of this letter. I do not want either you or I to leave this world with any regrets of never knowing each other. No expectations are really attached to this letter but just a desire to make contact and let you know about me and hopefully you in turn will let me know about you.

I am married and have been married to a wonderful man for the past 23 years . He is a pastor and we serve at a wonderful church in Arkansas where we have lived for the past 12 years. I have my own business which I started last year. It is a cleaning service business and I am very happy and successful in that. We have four wonderful, beautiful children. David is 22 years old, graduated from High School and currently living at home. He hopes and dreams of working with kids in Africa someday. Jeremy, our second son is 19 years old and is a senior in High School. His aspirations are to graduate and pursue Political Science. Our third son, Jordan is 14 years old and is a freshman. His lifetime goal and dream is to be in the Navy. Our daughter, Anna Marie (her name comes from your Mothers name) is 9 years old and is in the fourth grade.

I wanted to take this opportunity to say that I am a Christian and I have a personal relationship with my Jesus Christ. Since Christmas time is about giving, I want to let you know that the greatest gift I ever received is God's love and forgiveness and this Christmas time I would like to extend the same to you. (John 3:16) If I could wrap a gift and put it under your tree, it would be my forgiveness and love towards you. No matter what turns we have taken in life, God has reminded me that there is a beginning and an end. Not only was God there in the beginning of my life but you were also there and I do not want to get to the end of my life without ever knowing about you.

If after reading this, you find that there is a empty place in your heart for the daughter that you have not known, please do not close the door. I would very much like to hear from you and hear about you.

Have a blessed Christmas!

Laurie

(address)

(phone)

(email)

What chance that the first name on that list of four possibilities would be the eyes I was looking for? God had a special delivery this Christmas of 2004. As Larry and Martha read the letter, tears flood their eyes... the first of many tears to come. I had finally found the eyes of my father!

AREN'T YOU THANKFUL THAT GOD CARES

ABOUT THE DESIRES OF OUR HEART?

WHAT ARE THE DESIRES OF YOUR HEART TODAY?

GIVE IT TO GOD AND SEE WHAT

MOUNTAINS HE WILL MOVE FOR YOU!

Do you have a thankful heart? Visit IRIS for other THANKFUL THURSDAY postings, you will be blessed from all of them!

With a THANKFUL heart;

Laurie

COMING UP:

"My Fathers Eyes" part four ... Daddy, I'm here (the reunion)

READ PART FOUR HERE!!