Missing In Action

Dear Family and Friends, January 19, 2006

Hello to all of you, I hope this letter finds you in good spirits and with a healthy body. I just wanted to share something with you that happened to me today. We'll call this story "Missing in Action." This is a term I like to use when referring to something that is missing. You see, when something is missing, the first human instinct is to think that someone has taken it. This action is accusing or judging someone. We should all know that making accusations or judging someone can hinder our relationships and bring about emotions that stir evil ways. Have you ever been accused of something, whether it was false or true, it doesn't feel real good, does it, especially if isn't true. So why do this to other people, if we all know what it feels like to be on the other end of the shoe? We should all know that the Lord handles these people and that it is not our right to accuse them or to judge them.

Since living in California, my book bag, which all of you know carries all of my important items, has found legs and walked off twice. This just happened for the second time today. My book bag is currently missing in action. It had my wallet, all my books, one of my bibles, my notes for my classes, my prayer list, my whistles, my devotional journals, and even my sunglasses. About a year ago when it was stolen the first time, I panicked and literally had a nervous breakdown, crying, shaking, and hyperventilating. This time was different and I wanted to share with all of you the difference.

This time my Mom, who was staying with me, found out about it and she began to pray for me as I ran off to the bank and back to work feeling very violated and heart broken. Instead of having a nervous breakdown, I prayed for the person who had my stuff, and didn't build any resentments or plot revenge on that person. The Lord has told me that He will handle this person and made me realize that there was nothing in that book bag that couldn't be replaced. It is not worth it for me to get all worked up about this violation, to build resentments, to plot revenge, or to accuse anyone, because I would only be hurting myself. Yeah, it will take time and money to replace some of those items, but my only action is to thank the Lord for what has happened to me today. Some of you are thinking I'm crazy, how can I possibly thank the Lord for something like that. Well, I thought of Job in the Bible. If you have never read the book of Job in the Bible, I highly suggest you read it to understand why I thought of Job. This scripture immediately came to mind:

"He said, 'I was born with nothing, and I will die with nothing. The Lord gave, and now he has taken away. May his name be praised!' In spite of everything that had happened, Job did not sin by blaming God."

Job 1: 21-22

As I was being prayed for and I was praying, I felt an overwhelming urge to just look at the positives of the situation, and this is what I came up with:

-My phone and work keys were not in the bag.
-Everything can be replaced.
-My "Sermon on the Mount" notes and commentaries could all be re-accessed on the net.
-I only had $5 cash in the wallet.
-I have a back up whistle with my work keys.
-Maybe a homeless person needed my bag and items more than me.
-Maybe someone will find my bible and literature and decide to give their life to Christ.

The important lesson learned in the one year time of how I have reacted differently with this incident is the power of prayer and turning to God for answers. Last year when I had the nervous breakdown, I didn't turn to God. This time, I was being prayed for and I was praying. I began to think of Job and chose to be like Job. He had a lot more stuff happen to him and he still had faith in Jesus our Lord that everything happens for reasons. My book bag finding legs and walking off has not caused me to sin because I forgive that person, I am not angry with that person, I am not building any bitterness towards that person, and most importantly I am not plotting any revenge towards that person.

"Get rid of all bitterness, passion, and anger. No more shouting or insults, no more hateful feelings of any sort. Instead be kind and tender-hearted to one another, and forgive one another, as God has forgiven you through Christ."

Ephesians 4:31-32

All of us have had items that have become missing in action. That is exactly what they should be called whether we think we know or even if we do know the truth. The truth is our Heavenly Father always knows and he is merciful and graceful to those who repent and come to Him. Let Him take care of anyone who wrongs us. When we are bitter, resentful, angry, and revengeful towards others, we are accusing or judging and we will ultimately destroy these relationships and only hurt ourselves. We all know that forgiveness is hard sometimes, especially when you know that the person hasn’t asked for forgiveness. A relationship with Jesus Christ can help us learn how to forgive and learn how to love. He showed the ultimate way of forgiveness and love when he died on the cross for all of mankind's sin. A relationship with Jesus Christ will allow us to be free of these emotions that can stir evil. I hope you enjoyed me sharing my experience of having something "missing in action."

I love you all and God Bless.


Tonya

"Do not judge others, so that God will not judge you, for God will judge you in the same way you judge others, and he will apply to you the same rules you apply to others."
Mathew 7:1-2

My Uncle David and I at a Birthday party.