Seven Letters To Heaven - Award-Winning Finalist in the " Spirituality: Inspirational" category - The 2012 International Book Awards and USA "Best Books 2011" Awards. Author Felicita "Terry" Robinson found herself at a spiritual crossroads as she was faced with the daunting task of uprooting herself and her family from their native Jamaica. For her, writing her prayers down gave her a sense of solace and the strength to accomplish her goals. In her new book, Seven Letters to Heaven - A True Story of Faith and Answered Prayers (published by iUniverse), Robinson shares with readers seven of 21 personal letters of prayer she wrote as a way of communicating to God to seek His help with the small day-to-day problems she was experiencing. After looking back on her letters, she realized that not only were her prayers answered, her faith was also strengthened, leading her to wanting to share her experience with others. "I have always felt that there was something missing that I needed to do spiritually other than being a good Christian", said Robinson. "I realized that the actual publishing of my personal letters was the missing piece that I needed, not only to help others, but in order to help me grow spiritually". Taking place during the last four months Robinson was in Jamaica prior to relocating to the U.S, Seven Letters to Heaven is about the trials and tribulations that came as a result of leaving home to start a new life, and the problems inherent with moving from one country to another. The book focuses on Robinson's written "letters of prayers" to God, sharing her day-to-day problems as well as poems and biblical quotations, and finding peace through her powerful faith. The story behind Seven Letters to Heaven is a simple one; however the message is very powerful. This book will take readers on a walk of faith that shows God can truly become a real friend to anyone and most importantly, He does answer prayers, in
Seven Letters to Heaven
A True Story of Faith and Answered PrayersBy Felicita "Terry" RobinsoniUniverse, Inc.
Copyright © 2010 Felicita "Terry" Robinson
All right reserved.ISBN: 978-1-4502-2920-3 Contents
Preface.................................................................viiHow It All Began........................................................1The Gift of Prayer......................................................5Chapter Two I Know You Will Help Me.....................................7Background..............................................................7Letter..................................................................13Outcome.................................................................15Psalm 121...............................................................18The Nightingale's Praise................................................20Please Fix that Car, Lord, and Find Me a Buyer..........................22Background..............................................................22Letter..................................................................26Outcome.................................................................28The Great Mystery of Life...............................................32A Plea for Guidance and Direction in Meeting Goals......................34Background..............................................................34Letter..................................................................37Outcome.................................................................39Psalm 23................................................................42First Letter to the Reader..............................................44Take This Cup from Me...................................................47Background..............................................................47Letter..................................................................52Outcome.................................................................54Solace..................................................................57Fear of Not Meeting Deadlines...........................................59Background..............................................................59Letter..................................................................65Outcome.................................................................67Have You Ever...........................................................70A Plea for Help and Strength............................................72Background..............................................................72Letter..................................................................76Outcome.................................................................78Second Letter to the Reader.............................................82Thanksgiving Letter.....................................................85Reflections on the Thanksgiving Letter and on Faith.....................87The Day I Spoke with Jesus..............................................91Psalm 100...............................................................93Believe in Miracles!....................................................95Epilogue................................................................101
Chapter One
How It All Began
I had always felt that relocating from my homeland to another country would require a lot of courage. Yet, there I was, making that decision, along with my family, and feeling somewhat scared about a permanent move to the United States. From the start, you need to know that I used to worry a whole lot. Always calm, cool, and collected on the outside, I would worry myself to death on the inside. Since I worried about every little thing, you can understand that this big move my family was contemplating was killing me slowly.
With all the tasks that had to be completed before our departure, I sometimes felt the urge to reach out to someone. However, I never did, simply because of my pride. I just did not want to share my personal struggles and problems with family or friends. Being a formal person, this was something that I could not and would not do; for me, it was just not right-end of story. So, at night, in the privacy of my bedroom, I started writing letters of prayer to the Lord. These prayers, written as letters, were very personal and simple. They conveyed exactly what my true emotions were at that time, as well as provided me with some amount of comfort. More important, they helped to tell my story as it unfolded in Jamaica and showed me that the Lord does answer our prayers.
I wrote my first letter to God shortly after my husband, Gary, left for the United States on August 3, 1984. I sought assurance from the Lord in that particular letter regarding our plans to relocate. Gary had gone ahead to pave the way for the arrival of our two children, Gail and Kevin, as well as myself, in December of that same year. From that very first letter, my habit of writing letters to the Lord took on a life of its own.
Writing letters of prayer became my regular way of communicating with the Lord. I felt so much closer to Him. It was almost as if He were sitting there with me in my bedroom, and I were talking with Him. The experience created a feeling of comfort, which inspired me to freely share everything that was within my heart. When I wrote my letters, I was no longer that proud person who did not want to share her problems with anyone. It was a truly amazing feeling, as my Lord and Savior had now become my best friend-one who loved me unconditionally and asked for nothing in return.
My days were filled with a lot of activity in getting ready to leave Jamaica. Before I settled down to write one of my letters at night, I would usually be preoccupied with the concerns of that day. As soon as I started writing, I became calmer-an effect that deepened with each stroke of my pen. This had a healing effect on my spirit; before falling asleep, I felt assured that the Lord would help me.
In spite of all this assurance and calm, my tendency to worry would surface every day. I would worry, sometimes unnecessarily, in response to every stumbling block that I encountered. The calm would only come once I knocked on the Lord's door; this happened over and over again throughout the period before my departure. I prayed often and asked the Lord to strengthen my faith in between the times that I wrote my letters. I wanted so much to stop worrying at the sign of a problem and to fully let go and let God take charge of my life.
My faith was strengthened at the end of the four-month period, and the answers to my letters of prayer were revealed. The Lord, of course, did everything in His own way, in His own time, and at His own will.
Seven Letters to Heaven was written in prayer, praise, and thanksgiving for the goodness of God and His unconditional love for me, because I felt the need to share this beautiful experience with others. The poems interspersed throughout the book were also inspired from personal incidents. I felt compelled to write "The Day I Spoke with Jesus," as the experience recounted in the poem was truly real for me. "The Nightingale's Praise" was written one Sunday morning while a nightingale warbled for about ten minutes outside my bedroom window. I found the song of that bird haunting and beautiful; it was such a precious moment in time for me that I had to immediately capture it in that poem. "The Great Mystery of Life" was done after a friend tearfully shared a personal problem with me. "Solace," "Have You Ever ..." and "The Gift of Prayer" were all written in heartfelt gratitude for prayers answered.
Now walk with me on this brief journey as I share my simple story with you.
Thus, before they call I shall answer, before they stop speaking I shall have heard. -Isaiah 65:24 * * * Surely God hears our prayers. He is a merciful Father who truly loves us. -F"T"R * * *
The Gift of Prayer The gift of prayer Is to us A gift of peace and of solace The gift of prayer Is to us A gift of love and of blessings The gift of prayer Is to us A gift of joy and of hope No need to search for things beyond our reach To struggle To try to make ends meet For every prayer is like an oasis in the desert Providing shade and water for all to drink Every prayer is like rain from above Wetting the parched soil of our troubled minds I will lift up mine eyes to the hills-from whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. -Psalm 121:1-2
Chapter Two
I Know You Will Help Me
Background
August 1984 was a time in my home country when the economy was very unstable. The prices on everything had skyrocketed, and general dissatisfaction and unrest had increased among the people. The supporters of both political parties-Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and People's National Party (PNP)-conducted protest demonstrations, and crime was rampant in the city. Some people, who could afford to, had installed burglar bars on their doors and windows. This was for protection from the burglars who roamed the streets at nights looking for access into homes.
Not a lot of money circulated in the economy, and this was noticeable from the scanty number of shoppers in stores and shopping centers. Few had money to spend on anything but food. The high prices generally of all types of goods and their scarcity were reflected in the supermarkets as well. The practice of restricting the selling of one item unless it was purchased with another item was prevalent. This was termed the "marrying of goods." One could not buy a piece of salt fish without purchasing the ackee that was needed to prepare Jamaica's famous ackee-and-salt-fish breakfast dish. Cheddar cheese, which was well known, well loved, and well used on the island, was married to the bun; you could not buy one without the other. In addition to all of this, unemployed young men stood every day on street corners and piazzas, just waiting to get into trouble.
These were some of the scenarios that planted the seed in our minds that it was perhaps time for us to relocate to the United States. An early departure from the island was ensured, as my family already had their permanent visas (also known as green cards). This, of course, certainly helped the seed to quickly germinate and reach fruition.
The idea to leave Jamaica grew by leaps and bounds as Gary and I also thought about the future of our two children, who were still young. Gail was fourteen, and Kevin was only ten years old. We constantly worried about their safety, as well as their future education. This latter concern was borne out of the fact that the University of the West Indies was the only institution of higher learning in the country at that time. To be accepted, one would need to do exceptionally well on the General Certificate of Education Examinations (GCE)-both "O" and "A" levels. This made the competition extremely high for potential students, as only a small number would be accepted each year.
A move to the United States, we believed, would definitely open a lot of doors for our children, including easier access to getting their college education. We wondered, too, if we could continue to afford living in Jamaica and whether job opportunities would be available for the children, once they completed their education. It was these additional concerns, coupled with what was happening politically in the country, which finally convinced us that we should relocate to the United States.
Gary and I had planned that he would go four months ahead of the children and me. I would remain in Jamaica, because Gail and Kevin were still in school. As a result of this decision, taking care of everything before our departure would automatically fall into my lap. We both knew that this would be quite a lot of work to be completed in four months, but it had to be done. There was not much choice at that point, as it was imperative for Gary to get things ready for us prior to our arrival in the United States, while I remained in Jamaica.
Once we had arrived at this decision, I became anxious about the problems my family would face before this big move became a reality. This was how I worried about everything! I believed I had a good enough reason to worry this time, however, as the tasks ahead seemed truly daunting. They included, among other things, selling our family car, furniture, and other household items; making arrangements to get our personal effects to the United States; preparing our home for rental; finding a tenant; settling all outstanding obligations; and getting the two children and myself ready to leave Jamaica. I felt that was quite an agenda for one person over a four-month period.
I had avoided sharing one worry in particular with my family: Deep down in my heart, I was not fully sure about leaving Jamaica. I had an excellent job and was not convinced that I would get a similar position in the United States. The relocation, whether at that time or any other time, was something that we had to do in order to maintain our visa status, but I was just not ready to leave.
I had decided to keep these thoughts to myself because my husband and two children were so excited about living in the United States. In retrospect, my refusal to share this with them might have added to my initial stress. What made me write my first letter to God, however, was my anxiety about the preparatory work involved in the relocation, as well as some nagging questions that I had.
I spent several sleepless nights pondering these concerns. On one of those nights, as I stared in the darkness of my room, the questions rolled from one to the next. How am I going to manage on my own over the next four months? Will I get through with everything in time for our departure? Will I have sufficient funds? Have we made the right decision to leave our homeland? Are we going to like the United States and find comparable jobs there? What about the children and drugs? As you can see, I was truly a basket case.
Adding to all this confusion, Gary had taken with him only a meager portion of our savings-and, to make matters worse, he had no job offers. This was another nagging worry that surfaced every night.
I did not want to share these personal fears and concerns with anyone, as I knew what some people would say. Why are you giving up your good job? Why leave this beautiful country? Why are you giving yourselves unnecessary problems? Jamaica is your homeland, and you are already established here. "Yes," I screamed out loud in my thoughts. "Yes, this is my homeland, but I am leaving it for what I hoped would be a better life, particularly for my children!"
So, each night, I would lay in bed, wide awake and totally confused, trying to find answers to all my questions. I wanted some assurance that we had made the right decision. Most of all, I was scared-scared of the unknown. I truly begged the Lord to show me a sign before finally sitting up in bed and slowly and carefully writing my first letter to Him, which I called "I Know You Will Help Me." I folded the paper on which the letter had been written and placed it in the back of my family Bible.
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. -Romans 8:28 * * * I cry out to the Lord with my voice; with my voice to the Lord I make my supplication. I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare before Him my trouble. -Psalm 142:1-2 * * *
I Know You Will Help Me
Letter
August 1984
My dear, sweet Jesus:
I am your child, and I am in need of your guidance. My problems are many, and I seek your intervention and your help.
Sweet Jesus, I am laying them at your feet tonight. I'm letting go of them and letting God take over. I will then rest in the knowledge that I am under your loving guidance and protection.
Sweet Jesus, in the same way that you clothe and feed the birds of the air, I know you will help me in this, my hour of need. Lord, you know my life; you know my suffering; you know my confusion and fears; you know all my problems. Give me strength and guidance tonight, Lord.
Jesus, you have never failed me in the past when I reached out to you. Please help me again.
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him. -Psalm 28:7 * * * If you have faith and believe that there is a God, many mountains will be moved from life's troubled pathways. -F"T"R * * *
I Know You Will Help Me
Outcome
I awoke the next morning still feeling somewhat troubled. If only I could get some kind of sign that would somehow convince me that this step my family was taking was the right one. I got cold feet just thinking about leaving my homeland. One has to be really certain when planning to move from one's country to another. That certainty was what I lacked.
I was the only one in my family who still had some misgivings about leaving Jamaica. The children were overly excited about going. We had been traveling between Jamaica and the United States over the past three years, in order to not lose our visa status. These trips included lots of shopping, sightseeing, and visiting our relatives in Rochester, New York; the visits were constant vacations for my children. After all, visiting was quite different from actually living in the country and being caught up with the challenges of daily life. My children could not wait to leave. You know how young siblings usually get along close to the time of celebrations-birthdays or Christmas Eve-in anticipation of opening gifts and having fun? Well, my two were no longer fighting and were best friends as they eagerly awaited our departure. Gary, on the other hand, wanted to leave Jamaica because he felt that there would be better employment opportunities in the United States. This definitely made me singular with regards to our decision.
I read the letter I had written the night before and placed it again in my Bible. I reached over and turned on the small radio by my bedside. It was tuned to RJR-one of the island's two radio stations at the time. As the radio crackled to life, I heard, "... and so my brothers and sisters, do not be afraid to make important decisions in your lives. God will always guide you, but you will have to trust in Him and have faith. Amen." It was Sunday, and I seemed to have caught the end of a church service broadcast. I quickly turned up the volume of the radio, but was greeted with strains of "The Old Rugged Cross"-one of my favorite hymns. For a moment, I wondered if I had heard what I thought I heard. As it dawned on me that I had heard right, I just started smiling. I thought it was so wonderful that I had asked for guidance, and the response came to me through a radio program. I knew then in my heart that Gary and I had made the right decision. God surely works in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform.
I got down on my knees and said a silent prayer of thanksgiving. I asked the Lord to be ever at my side and to hold my hands in His. My prayers also included a request for Him to show me the way-not only over the next four months, but when my children and I joined my husband in the United States.
Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding; ... -Proverbs 3:13 * * * In order for the Lord to help us, we need to have faith; open our minds and hearts to Him; and listen to that small voice from within. -F"T"R
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Seven Letters to Heavenby Felicita "Terry" Robinson Copyright © 2010 by Felicita "Terry" Robinson. Excerpted by permission.
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