Our First Coast Tea Party runs completely on donations, volunteers, and prayer.  Each day when the mail arrives there is usually one or two envelopes containing donations from our members.  This week we received a donation that, in my opinion, was the greatest of all.

The letter was addressed in large block letters on the front and on the back it stated “donations.”

I opened the letter expecting a monetary donation, but getting quite a different type of donation.

This wasn’t quite what I was expecting.  However, this message is not unique, as we have been receiving both phone messages and emails with similar context recently.  Some of the communications have been laced with foul language and hateful declarations.  At times I find it challenging to keep my composure, focus, and diplomacy.  This letter was one of those moments in time.  I wanted to respond to this “Cheryl Campbell” with just as much, if not more, contempt. 

I was angry and wished to “re-act” rather than “act” upon the circumstance.

I thought about her letter, read it several times, and could not remove myself from the feeling of “re-act” and respond to her.  In wanting to respond to her, I spent some time trying to verify her address then her name only to find that neither the address nor name were valid.  This made me even angrier as anonymous correspondence is an act of a coward and I hate dislike such individuals with a passion.  My next plan was to post the images of the letter and denigrate the individual. 

            Saturday morning, I scanned the letter and uploaded it to my computer.   I was now ready to begin the blog when my husband said, “Let’s go out for a jog it is a beautiful morning.”  I really wanted to finish this, but something urged me to put it down and go.  We got dressed, I grabbed my iPod, and we headed out. 

            I may have been outside doing something with my husband, but my mind was still on the blog trying to figure out the words I was going to use to deride the individual who wrote this letter.  This is when I heard, from a podcast on my iPod, Charles Stanley say “Time is what your life is about, your life is your time, God’s given you a segment (. . .). What you and I do with it is very important, we either invest it wisely or we waste it.  If time is my life and life is time, for me to waste time is a sin against God.” 

           I am an “infant” on my journey with the Lord and do not have significant knowledge of scripture, but when I slow down and listen he always gives me an answer.  Reflecting on Mr. Stanley’s statement while I was jogging I realized my desire to re-act to this letter was not in line with God’s word.  It was, however, indicative of me placing “my” satisfaction above all reason, not a good character trait.  The individual who sent this letter is hurting, mislead, and in need of some compassion.  Instead of wishing ill towards this individual, I pray that he or she may feel the Lord’s hand upon them and come to understand that God conveys comfort and wisdom to those who seek him and have faith.

        This donation was a gift from God as it made me realize my decisions without God’s guidance contain neither wisdom nor knowledge, but contain selfish gratification.  If Jesus could have such a strong faith to know his crucifixion was hours away and still pray and give comfort to others, I must surely be able to surrender my desire for earthly impulsive decisions to God. 

This morning I asked God to tell me how to deal with this letter and opened my bible to this:

Daniel 2:20-23 “Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, For wisdom and power belong to Him.  And it is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men, And knowledge to men of understanding.  It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, And the light dwells with Him.  To Thee, O God of my fathers I give thanks and praise, For Thou hast given me wisdom and power; Even now Thou hast made known to me what we requested of Thee, For Thou hast made known to us the king’s matter.”

        I needed an answer and God provided it.  I want to thank the individual who wrote this letter to the First Coast Tea Party.  You have given me yet another opportunity to build upon my relationship with the Lord. Your donation turned out to be a gift from God. 

Thank you and God Bless you,

Debbie