Dear God,

Hi, it’s me again, Your lost sheep, Catherine. So, they told me I should write You this letter, making “significant emotional statements” as if You were sitting right in front of me for fifteen minutes. Irony of all ironies, though, and despite the fact that I sit here writing to You as broken and shattered as I could have ever imagined, I have never truly thought for even a minute that You weren’t somehow sitting directly beside me every second of every moment of my life. I know You’re here. I can feel You in the wind, and hear You constantly in the my children’s’ laughter. I actually “see You” all around me in the beautiful things You have made for us, and especially when a butterfly dances past my eyes.

Okay, so, let me just follow along with the format they’ve given me and see where this can go. Here’s how I’m really feeling: At this moment I am looking directly to You in search of some closure and understanding. Please let this closure, if found, be a new beginning:

So, I resent You God for absolutely nothing, and I think You know that I mean that.

I fully believe that all of my punishments were not only earned, but not cast down by You at all. Rather were they self-punishments by my own dirty hands. I appreciate You for so many things that they would be too hard to list here, and I wouldn’t want to leave anything out. So, how about, again, just the simple sound of my kids’ laughter. Their smiles. Their tears, their hugs. How about those two tiny hands that grab my cheeks every morning and remind me of that I’m still alive. How about my parents, my sister, and hell, even Him? Only You know how things are going to go for us, yet still I love Him and He did bring my beautiful children into this atmosphere. I appreciate all the beauty in this world that envelops me and even the not so pretty things that force me to concentrate on the others. Yes, God, I appreciate You more than You know. Oh, wait! You do know, right?

I thank you, God. for the two small miracles you placed in my path over this last twelve months: Henrik and Zack.

May Your grace ever light the many roads they travel in order that the gifts of true kindness and compassion each have to offer this world may be abundantly acknowledged and accepted. They are my safe havens for once and for all … warm, safe places to land, be broken, vulnerable and heard. Never once have I known hearts so pure, except for those of my children, and never friendships as open, accepting, unconditional and trusting. You know God, that was really all I ever wanted … to be heard with out judgment, validated and accepted … for all that I am, flaws included.

I am so sorry God that I have refused to search for Your hand in all of these years.

I know You’ve reached out many times but I just kept slapping Your hand away. I’m sorry for being so selfish, ego-centrical and pitiful. I’m sorry for being weak and lazy. I’m sorry for all the hatred, venom and toxic black poison that still runs inside my veins. I’m sorry for feeling sorry for myself all the time and sorry for being sorry. I’m sorry that I am stubborn not that very pliable. God, please listen to me … I’m sorry for haven taken a single one of the gifts that You have given me and pissed them all away. God, I am just fucking sorry. And for all of these things I would desperately like to make amends now.

I can’t say that I forgive You for anything, as I do not at all believe that You have done anything wrong. As I said, I believe that my “punishments” – the guilt, shame, self-mutilation, and torture, were not of YOUR hands at all – they were of my own. So then? I forgive you NOT! I do miss You though, and I mean that. It feels lonely and suffocating having severed myself completely from Your light.

So, now I need to “say goodbye to the dream of how I wanted my life to be”. I want to try do things Your way now. I can honestly say that I am not at all sure how I’m going to actually let that happen, but I suppose these words are a start. Please hear me. I’m ready to be forgiven. Please show me the way. I want to let this go and just start over. I need a second chance now. I love you, God.

~ Catherine

SECOND CHANCE

My eyes are open wide and by the way, I made it through the day. I watch the world outside and by the way, I’m leaving out today. I just saw Haley’s comet, she waved, said, “Why are you always running in place”? Even the man in the moon disappeared somewhere in the stratosphere. Tell my mother, tell my father, I’ve done the best I can to make them realize this is my life. I hope they understand. I’m not angry, I’m just saying … Sometimes goodbye is a second chance. Please don’t cry one tear for me – I’m not afraid of what I have to say. This is my one and only voice so listen close it’s only for today. I just saw Haley’s comet, she waved and said, “Why you always running in place?” Even the man in the moon disappeared somewhere in the stratosphere. Tell my mother, tell my father, I’ve done the best I can to make them realize this is my life. I hope they understand. I’m not angry, I’m just saying … Sometimes goodbye is a second chance. {Shinedown}