Dear DC,
I felt like I should write you this letter to tell you that I am deeply sorry for the turn of events. It broke my heart to know that my guitar was indeed at your home. Although I am very glad to know who broke into my home, I was so very saddened to learn it was you.
I am not sure why we make such bad choices, choices that in the end lead to everyone’s sadness. I am not sure if you needed money because of a drug habit, because you really needed money for food, or just because you were bored and thought that would be cool. But now…you face a very dark and lonely road if you do not use this moment to make a positive change.
I am a committed follower of Jesus. I have dedicated my life to serving Him which means loving him with all of my heart, my mind, my soul and my strength. It also means loving my neighbor as myself, even when they mess up. DC, you are a child of God, a child of the King and deeply loved whether you know it or not. God desperately wants you to know Him and adopt his way of life which is not easy. Trust me, loving you right now is difficult because of the trust you have broken-but I am still committed and called to show you grace, mercy, and kindness. That does not mean that I am ok with what you did-but I still love you as a child of God.
Your actions have caused me great pain. Although most of the items you took were not expensive and in fact you may be very disappointed that you did not get much money from them; they meant a lot to me. The jewelry box was a Christmas present from my mom-in it was a necklace a friend gave me while in Iraq-it is the shape of a fish with my name in Arabic. The IPOD docking station was a gift from my dad. The old rifle, a gift from my stepfather (and that item is the one that is going to get you in the most trouble). I had been saving up that jar of change for nearly three years and was about to cash it in. To see pictures and my memories slung across my room was disturbing…plus, I’m pretty sure you broke into my home back in September…a cigarette butt was left in the bathroom so time and DNA will let us know here shortly. So, now add the bowling ball which belonged to my mom, the briefcase which was a gift from my dad and also contained my journal-a year’s worth of memories…gone…probably slung somewhere like trash. I could go on…I think you get the point.
I’m not sure if you realize how you have hurt people-and what’s more-how you have hurt yourself. Every time you go against the little voice in your heart/head that tell you not to do something or to do something good-you cause yourself pain deep inside. And soon, you will NOT hear that voice at all and that is a dangerous and dark place.
DC, I believe in you. You are loved by the Creator God who made you, by a family doing their best to guide you and show you what is right, and others who may be angry but still want the best for you. The question is-do you want the best for yourself? So, know that I as your neighbor, still care. As much as I would like to have my things returned, I would gladly give them up if I knew that you would make a positive change in your life-nothing would bring me greater joy at this point.
There is a beautiful story in the Bible, in Luke 15 called the Lost Son. This is your story. I hope you will have the courage to read it and know that God is waiting for you to return to Him so that he can pour out his love on you. Let me know how I can help. Grace and peace-lisa 705
Since this letter, DC has been arrested. My guitar and amplifier were found in his home. Now my next stage comes as I pray about all of our next steps. More to follow. May the peace of Christ rule in our hearts-pray for DC, prison is no place for a child….
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