The Lord has appeared unto me, saying, "Yes, I have
loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore
with loving kindness have I drawn thee."
Jeremiah 31:3
This month, I wrote about several intense topics...
loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore
with loving kindness have I drawn thee."
Jeremiah 31:3
This month, I wrote about several intense topics...
But now I would like to close out the month with a gratifying story of forgiveness. This being the friendship between myself and a mother whose daughter was murdered back in the summer of 1977.
It was at a troubled time in my life when young Stacey Moskowitz lost her life. She was the last victim of what was to become known as the "Son of Sam" shootings, which occurred in New York City. I was subsequently arrested for these crimes and would eventually plead guilty to everything. As a result, I receive multiple life sentences. Now, some 45 years later, I remain incarcerated.
But a lot can happen in forty years. People change. Their outlook to life can change, too. And this is what happened to me. Approximately ten years into my sentence, I experienced what many would call an "epiphany." This being something of a spiritual awakening in which I began to see my life through a different mindset. In Christianity, it is often referred to as being "born again."
After repenting of my sins, and crimes, and asking Jesus to forgive me for the bad things that I did, my life began to change in various ways. One of which was that I now had a deep desire to apologize for my past criminal actions, and to seek forgiveness from those whom I had hurt.
For a long time I prayed for the opportunity to do this. And in time it would actually happen with at least one individual, the mother of the last victim, Stacey. Thanks to the efforts of a friend of mine by the name of Maury Terry, who was a freelance journalist who'd been investigating the Son of Sam case, I was able to connect with Mrs. Moskowitz where a friendship developed between her and me.
Through an act of God and with Maury Terry's help, a miracle came to pass. Mrs. Moskowitz and I began to correspond by mail as well as talk on the telephone. In time, the hatred she felt towards me began to diminish. We talked at length about many things. We wept, and we laughed. And to this very day I still have in my possession all of Neysa's letters.
Sadly, however, Neysa and I never got to meet, although we both hoped to do so one day. She developed cancer and passed away. Nevertheless, word somehow got out that Neysa Moskowitz forgave me for taking her daughter's life.
Looking back over all that transpired between Mrs. Moskowitz and me, and all the healing that had taken place between us, I could honestly say it was the Lord Himself, Messiah Jesus, who'd been guiding my steps. He kept Satan from taking my life.
Why did Jesus do this? It was because of his love. He loved me before I was born, and He loved me while I was growing inside my mother Betty's womb. And He loves me today, even as I sit in a prison cell.
As the Scripture declares, "God is love" (1 John 4:7-8). Love is our Creator's divine nature. It's as simple as that.
D.B.
It was at a troubled time in my life when young Stacey Moskowitz lost her life. She was the last victim of what was to become known as the "Son of Sam" shootings, which occurred in New York City. I was subsequently arrested for these crimes and would eventually plead guilty to everything. As a result, I receive multiple life sentences. Now, some 45 years later, I remain incarcerated.
But a lot can happen in forty years. People change. Their outlook to life can change, too. And this is what happened to me. Approximately ten years into my sentence, I experienced what many would call an "epiphany." This being something of a spiritual awakening in which I began to see my life through a different mindset. In Christianity, it is often referred to as being "born again."
After repenting of my sins, and crimes, and asking Jesus to forgive me for the bad things that I did, my life began to change in various ways. One of which was that I now had a deep desire to apologize for my past criminal actions, and to seek forgiveness from those whom I had hurt.
For a long time I prayed for the opportunity to do this. And in time it would actually happen with at least one individual, the mother of the last victim, Stacey. Thanks to the efforts of a friend of mine by the name of Maury Terry, who was a freelance journalist who'd been investigating the Son of Sam case, I was able to connect with Mrs. Moskowitz where a friendship developed between her and me.
Through an act of God and with Maury Terry's help, a miracle came to pass. Mrs. Moskowitz and I began to correspond by mail as well as talk on the telephone. In time, the hatred she felt towards me began to diminish. We talked at length about many things. We wept, and we laughed. And to this very day I still have in my possession all of Neysa's letters.
Sadly, however, Neysa and I never got to meet, although we both hoped to do so one day. She developed cancer and passed away. Nevertheless, word somehow got out that Neysa Moskowitz forgave me for taking her daughter's life.
Looking back over all that transpired between Mrs. Moskowitz and me, and all the healing that had taken place between us, I could honestly say it was the Lord Himself, Messiah Jesus, who'd been guiding my steps. He kept Satan from taking my life.
Why did Jesus do this? It was because of his love. He loved me before I was born, and He loved me while I was growing inside my mother Betty's womb. And He loves me today, even as I sit in a prison cell.
As the Scripture declares, "God is love" (1 John 4:7-8). Love is our Creator's divine nature. It's as simple as that.
D.B.
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