May 18, 2007

Dear Kate,

Today, I want to talk to you about Jesus, my Lord.  From the time I was a tiny tot, my mom taught me that Jesus loves me.  We always said the blessing before we ate, and we always said our prayers at night.

“Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray the Lord my soul to keep,

If I should die before I wake,

I pray the Lord, my soul to take.

Amen.”

I remember one of my first Sunday School teachers.  She was also our pastor’s wife, Sister Girken.  She was a petite little lady, who wore size four shoes.  She was soft-spoken and sweet.  And she conveyed the love of Jesus through Bible stories and through the way she treated us children.  From the time I was little, I was secure in the knowledge that Jesus loves me.  And I hope to help teach you the same thing, dear little girl....Jesus loves you, and you can be secure in His love.

When I was six years old, I went up to the altar at the front of our church with a lot of other children.  I didn’t fully understand everything, but I knew that I was giving my heart to Jesus.  When I did that, I became a child of God.  Here I am fifty years later, and I am still His child.....I still love the Lord.  And I am still secure in His love for me.

We had a wonderful Children’s Church teacher named Brother Lowery.  We kids loved him!  He taught us exciting Bible stories and songs, and Children’s Church was always fun!  One time, he had a contest for learning the Books of the Bible.  I won and received a silver charm bracelet with charms of the Ten Commandments.  One time I was sick and in a lot of discomfort.  Brother Lowery took me to the sanctuary and led me right up front to the pastor.  Brother Girken stopped the service to pray for me.  Brother Lowery was always in charge of the church plays, and we had some of the best Christmas and Easter programs!  When I was in my early twenties, he came to me and asked me to be in charge of the Easter play that year.  I was flabbergasted!  I didn’t know if I could do it.  But apparently, God had led him to ask me.  And that was the beginning of my being involved in drama.  Over the years, I have directed a lot of plays in church and a couple outside the church in the community.  The Lord gave me the talent and enabled me to do this thing that I love.  But I will always appreciate Brother Lowery for giving me my first opportunity.

I have been blessed with good mentors in church who taught me skills when I was young that I was able to use all through my life.  I pray, Kate, that you will be blessed with good examples and good mentors in your life, so that you will realize and live up to all your potential.  God has birthed gifts in you, my precious, that one day I hope you use for His glory.

Love,

Nana Karen