Dear Daniel
I don’t really tell you I’m proud of you, do I? I can’t remember doing that in the recent past. The “man” in me doesn’t really let me open up and do that in person, I guess. So I’m writing it publicly, right here on my blog. One thing the two of us have in common is that we really don’t care if all of our junk is aired in public. I’m not sure why that is, but I do know that God can use it. Somehow.
You’re an admitted alcoholic, and those who’ve been reading my blog for awhile already know that. Don’t let that get you down, because I have no doubts whatsoever that alcohol abuse is only a short-term thing for you. I also realize that falling to that desire may cause you shame, but what I want you to know is that I could not be more proud of the fact that you have not let go of God. You keep getting back up. You keep going. Do you know how much strength that takes? You may not see it, but I do and I want you to know that.
As part of his sermon this morning, Bill Giovannetti said God doesn’t count how many times we fall down. What’s important is that we get back up one time more than we’ve fallen. He said it much more eloquently than the way I just worded it, but I know you get the message. Continue standing back up when you fall, my brother. God’s there for you, and so am I.
You and I both know that I nearly wrote you off. I really thought you were hopeless for a few years there. Then you let me have the priviledge of witnessing you surrender your life to Jesus, and I knew things were going to be different this time. In case you don’t know, I’ve bragged about you all across the country to people who have invited me to speak in their churches. Often times they clap when they hear about that day.
I’m very happy we live together now. I’ll admit, just a few weeks ago on the day I had to make a decision about taking that new apartment and having you move in as my roommate I wasn’t totally sure if I liked the idea too much. Here we are almost a month later and I must say it’s been very good for me. I like having you around, even though I’m gone so much we hardly see each other. Just having you there eases my mind. I know you’re watching over my stuff and I know you care a lot about me. Having you there makes my life better.
Today I’m making myself accountable to you. I have done you a disservice by not sharing some of the amazing things I’ve been learning lately. That is going to change. Even when I’m on the road or working and we don’t have time together, face to face, I have no excuse for not writing to you or emailing you. I am hereby making a promise to share with you some of the things that have resulted in my faith in God deepening to a point I’ve never imagined possible. This stuff will change your life, and that’s not some exhausted cliché… it’s 100% true. This isn’t boring Bible banging. You’ll be intrigued. I know you well enough to know that.
So, Bub, just know I love you. Even if I don’t tell you often enough. I’m pretty sure you already know, but I also know you need to hear it in person once in awhile.
- Donny -
