God has been so good to me…
Over time He has put many kind and loving people in my life. Some of whom I have now known for thirty years, or longer. While others have since passed away. Thankfully, however, most of them are still here, and we continue to remain in touch.
One of these individuals is a Midwestern farmer by the name of Bill. Back in 1999, his daughter Debra, a devout Christian and clean-cut country girl, was watching my being interviewed on television by the late talk show host, Larry King. When, after the program ended, she sensed a prompting by the Holy Spirit to write me. And that she did. Our correspondence continued until her death several years ago. She had battled an illness for much of her adult life, and then the Lord took her to glory.
But later on, as Debra's parents were sorting through her belongings, they came across a cache of my letters to their daughter. Nothing even remotely romantic. Just a platonic friendship among two Christians, with Debra being the spiritually stronger one among the two of us. She became one of my mentors, and had the gift of encouragement, too.
It was sad to see my friend leave for heaven. But then her father decided to take her place. Now, Bill and I have since become close friends. In addition, he has taken on the work of his beloved daughter with regard to sharing my story of forgiveness with those in his community, to include some nearby correctional facilities.
Since my correspondence with Debra's dad began, he has handed out and distributed thousands of copies of my story, which has been published by an organization known as Moments With the Book.
Bill, who lives in "farm country," has over the years given a copy of it to just about every adult resident in his county. Sometimes he would stand in front of the local Walmart to hand out these pamphlets, also known as "tracts." He told me that people readily took them.
Just think, here I am locked away in a maximum security prison, but my story of redemption is not confined. It's traveling the world. This is something only God can do.
D.B.
One of these individuals is a Midwestern farmer by the name of Bill. Back in 1999, his daughter Debra, a devout Christian and clean-cut country girl, was watching my being interviewed on television by the late talk show host, Larry King. When, after the program ended, she sensed a prompting by the Holy Spirit to write me. And that she did. Our correspondence continued until her death several years ago. She had battled an illness for much of her adult life, and then the Lord took her to glory.
But later on, as Debra's parents were sorting through her belongings, they came across a cache of my letters to their daughter. Nothing even remotely romantic. Just a platonic friendship among two Christians, with Debra being the spiritually stronger one among the two of us. She became one of my mentors, and had the gift of encouragement, too.
It was sad to see my friend leave for heaven. But then her father decided to take her place. Now, Bill and I have since become close friends. In addition, he has taken on the work of his beloved daughter with regard to sharing my story of forgiveness with those in his community, to include some nearby correctional facilities.
Since my correspondence with Debra's dad began, he has handed out and distributed thousands of copies of my story, which has been published by an organization known as Moments With the Book.
Bill, who lives in "farm country," has over the years given a copy of it to just about every adult resident in his county. Sometimes he would stand in front of the local Walmart to hand out these pamphlets, also known as "tracts." He told me that people readily took them.
Just think, here I am locked away in a maximum security prison, but my story of redemption is not confined. It's traveling the world. This is something only God can do.
D.B.
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