LETTER 20
Dear Danyelle Elizabeth, Danyel Ezekiel, Daniqua Grace, Danae, Danita, Daniel, Danni, Danielle Tekeela, Duran, and Kywaizia :
I pray and hope that each one of you is truly doing well. Danyelle told me in the wee hours of this morning that she was doing well, and I was glad to hear that because normally in these situations when it is just siblings, even adult siblings, and no parents around, the younger children get forgotten, neglected, or hurt and have to suffer by themselves and are afraid to speak up. So, I was glad to hear she was doing well. I pray that is the case for Daniqua Grace and Danyel Ezekiel as well. All of you have a measure of Pharoah-style pride and Jamaican-style pride in you, as Meriqua Whyte does but not to her level, which is very dangerous where you might be going through something and not say anything, and that is very detrimental to your life and health. If you can’t tell anybody else the truth, at least tell God and tell me; otherwise, the pain of what happened to you will be with you until the day you die, and you will never be consistently happy and at peace, and I want that for each of you.
My loving Thanksgiving remembrance of you really is not just about you, but about the best family member and the most loving family member we have ever had. Her name is Sal short for Salvation. I am thankful for Danyelle’s 7th birthday, the day that she got saved, which prompted the birthday of Sal in our family. The precious memory of that day we went to the pet shop and got Sal is playing in my mind right now. And I am very thankful for God blessing us with Sal in our family for the years that she was with us. Just like most people believe that if a man has a great wife when she dies, he should not replace her. And if a woman has a great husband, if he dies, she should not replace him. This is why Billy Graham did not marry another woman after his wife, Ruth, died. This is why Coretta Scott-King did not marry after Martin Luther King Jr. died. Anyway, even after Sal died, some of you wanted another dog, but I was adamant about not replacing Sal because Sal was given to us by God and she was irreplaceable. And even as I write this letter, tears flow from my eyes. Sal was the most loving member of our family. Sal was the most tolerant member of our family. Sal put up with more mess than any member of our family. Sal loved each member of our family with unconditional love except for Meriqua Whyte because even he knew she was devilish and mean. Sal had a unique personality. Sal kept me company on our trips from Texas to Virginia and back when everybody else went to sleep, I could talk to Sal. Sal was ready to fight anybody who would mess with any of us. Sal prayed with us like she was human. Sal played with anyone who wanted to play with her. When Sal slept with us, she would sleep with us for as long as we slept and would wake up when we woke up. Sal was the best friend and the best family member that a little girl could have and that a family could have. And I will never forget the sad, depressed spirit and attitude that Danyelle, Daniqua, Danyel Ezekiel, Danae, and Danita had when Sal ran out of food and snacks, especially snacks, and how that many a night we had to rush to the Dollar General store or Wal-Mart to buy Sal some food. Or otherwise, my dear children would go on a hunger strike and feed Sal their food until she got her own. I thank God for Sal, and I remember Sal enjoying some turkey bones on Thanksgiving and during the Thanksgiving weekend with great gusto. And so with tears in my eyes, I thank God for Sal, the best, most loving family member we ever had, and I truly believe God is going to let us see her again in Heaven. Happy Thanksgiving, Sal as you run across the green meadows of Heaven. We love you.
My Thanksgiving devotional “Text” is Luke 11:9: “And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”
Danyelle Elizabeth, Danyel Ezekiel, Daniqua Grace, Danae, Danita, Daniel, Danni, Danielle Tekeela, Duran, and Kywaizia, I love you all very much and I am praying for you all without ceasing. Please pray for me as well, and keep your eyes on the prize; keep your heart and mind stayed on the Lord and He will keep you in perfect peace. Pray without ceasing.
Love God and Jesus Christ first.
Love Papa, second.
Love,
Papa
