Miss Karen, My name is Abby, I am 12 years old, and I live in San Angelo, TX. Normally I would only write a letter to an author for a school project, but this is of my own free will. I have heard my big sister talk about all of your books for years, and the other day I picked up the first book of yours that I've ever read, A Moment of Weakness. As soon as I realized that it was a series, I read all of your "Forever Faithful" books. Those are some of the best books I've ever read. At this point I've only read three books by you, and I'm sure the best are yet to come.
Like any kid my age, I know who God is, I know that He is my reason for being and that I owe my life to Him. In the past few days, I have found myself praying about everything and taking Christianity more seriously. In my Methodist church, the spring of your seventh grade year is when you go through confirmation. Not long ago, I had my doubts about the process. I figured it was a bunch of boring stuff that people made up, and I usually rolled my eyes at the thought of getting involved in church. The only Christian things I did outside of church were church camp, mealtime prayers, and FCA.
I never really relied solely on God's support for anything. And then, in the middle of November, my world was crushed. My best friend had been in a terrible crash. Her Grandmother was killed, her Grandpa, brother, and cousin will be scarred for life, and Megan will never be the same. All I could think to do was pray. She had just made the A basketball team. She'd just finished her first year as star of the cross-country team. She couldn't wait for spring so that she could run on the track team. But she can't. Megan's right arm was crushed, her spine was broken, and she had some of her intestines removed. My best friend was not able to take part in the full season of her favorite sport. She can't even sit in a regular chair because of her new back brace. Megan has lost so much in so few months. But the only thing in her world that didn't fall apart was her faith. I dream of having so strong of faith that so much can't do a thing to my beliefs.
One week after Megan's car crash, I got thrown into church. I had more purpose to be happy, because my Sunday School teacher had come up with a plan to give to God what He's given us. We began the "Mac and Cheese 100", and reached our goal two weeks into our allotted time. I took this miracle as a way of God showing me that He is there for me.
I taught myself to pray, just by reading your books. I pray as often as I think of it, and I have stopped saying Amen after each prayer request or praising thought. I believe that I should live my life as a prayer, and show God everything, and ending a prayer is like saying, "Don't listen right here, Lord, You might not like it."
I have faced things in my life, but they are nothing compared to the struggles of others. Megan got to come back to school on January eighth. The Sierra Vista UMC junior high Sunday school class raised around 365 boxes of Macaroni and Cheese. And I gained a knowledge of God. I am starting to see things the way God wants me to see them now. I am earnestly trying to stop sinning. I look forward to any quiet time that I have, so that I can tell God a little about my day. Thank you so much, Mrs. Kingsbury, for inspiring me to come closer to God. You are a blessing, because without you I wouldn't have started loving God like I do. Please share this prayer with me, and pray it often.
Dear Lord, thank you so much for being there every moment of every day. Thank You for being in the lives of so many people, the ones that speak Your words and the ones that listen. Please give those that the world considers powerful the only power that can save them. Lord, I ask you to bless the lives of those who don't know You with friends that do, and friends that are willing to bear Your witness. May You help your children with every problem they encounter, and teach them the true meaning of love. Please give the people of the world the love that they don't deserve.
Thank you, Miss Karen, for listening to me. Please keep writing and praying for the world, for they need someone to listen to, and someone to listen.
With the love of God in my heart, Abby M.
