Again and again I will share with you my forgiveness. It is a done issue – a non-issue for me. I learned so much in the pain of the after-effects, but without that pain, I would never have given my heart to the Lord. In many ways, I’ve told dozens of people, my divorce was the best thing to happen to me.

Indeed, I often realize that no one took my wife from me, rather, I pushed her away. I had to forgive her, apologize for my own mistakes, and in God’s timing, was able to find you that fateful Fall in 1995. I never could have forgiven you without the healing God has done in my heart.

I consider you a friend and would like to get together again someday.

PS: We watched the fireworks from the Safeway parking lot in Astoria last night – it was awesome!

Now, years later, I still do not have satisfactory answers to why, nor can I undo what has been done. Ironically, my own wife left me for another, which in turn tore apart our family and destroyed our home. I only pray that my children – that God keeps His hedge about them. Our honest and open sharing can break the chains of heredity that would bind our heirs to repeat the same mistakes.

The ninth step promises are true: “We will not regret the past, nor wish to shut the door on it. We will comprehend the word serenity and we will know peace. No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how our experience can benefit others.”

Thank you for your open and honest sharing. When I lost my dad, you gave me words of hope and forgiveness. Today, my hope is in the One who is constant. I have learned much about God’s love, patience and forgiveness from Hosea’s story. And I am trusting in His ability to heal all wounds.

May the remaining time you have with your dad will be filled with good memories and honest joy.

Terre