Seven Letters to Heaven: A True Story of Faith and Answered Prayers

By Felicita Robinson

Seven Letters To Heaven - Award-Winning Finalist in the " Spirituality: Inspirational" category - The 2012 International Book Awards and USA "Best Books 2011" Awards. Author Felicita “Terry” Robinson found herself at a spiritual crossroads as she was faced with the daunting task of uprooting herself and her family from their native Jamaica. For her, writing her prayers down gave her a sense of solace and the strength to accomplish her goals.

In her new book, Seven Letters to Heaven – A True Story of Faith and Answered Prayers (published by iUniverse), Robinson shares with readers seven of 21 personal letters of prayer she wrote as a way of communicating to God to seek His help with the small day-to-day problems she was experiencing. After looking back on her letters, she realized that not only were her prayers answered, her faith was also strengthened, leading her to wanting to share her experience with others. “I have always felt that there was something missing that I needed to do spiritually other than being a good Christian,” said Robinson. “I realized that the actual publishing of my personal letters was the missing piece that I needed, not only to help others, but in order to help me grow spiritually.”

Taking place during the last four months Robinson was in Jamaica prior to relocating to the U.S., Seven Letters to Heaven is about the trials and tribulations that came as a result of leaving home to start a new life, and the problems inherent with moving from one country to another. The book focuses on Robinson’s written “letters of prayers” to God, sharing her day-to-day problems as well as poems and biblical quotations, and finding peace through her powerful faith. The story behind Seven Letters to Heaven is a simple one; however the message is very powerful. This book will take readers on a walk of faith that shows God can truly become a real friend to anyone and most importantly, He does answer prayers, in His own way, in His own time and at His own will. Review Comment by Rev. Basil Aguzie, MSP follows:

"Faith, hope and courage are virtues every Christian on a spiritual journey with God must have. “Seven Letters to Heaven” confirms this. This book is not just about communicating with God through letter writing but also, it is a spiritual process of seeking God in one’s situation and recognizing His hands at work in one’s life; firstly in the means by which God answers one’s prayers, and secondly the times when He actually does so. What is remarkable about this book is that it not only serves as a guide, but also an easy to read spiritual companion. This is why I would recommend it to anyone searching for a deeper intimacy with God."

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Aug 18, 2010
• ISBN: 9781450229180

Felicita Robinson

Felicita Robinson, known as “Terry” was born and educated in Kingston, Jamaica. She became interested in writing short descriptions of places, people and things, as well as prose poems from age fourteen. Ms. Robinson relocated to the U.S. with her two children to join her husband, Gary, in 1984. She is an active member of St. Patrick’s Church in Rockville, Md., where she sings soprano as a member of the contemporary choir. Ms. Robinson is also the author of The Dark Side of War, published by the National Library of Poetry as a part of their Surrounded by Dreams edition, and has several other prose poems to her credit. She retired from the World Bank in 2008 following 23 years of service. She resides with her husband in Olney, Md., and is currently working on a new novel. For more information, please visit www.SevenLettersToHeaven.com.

Book preview

Contents

Preface

Chapter One

How It All Began

The Gift of Prayer

Chapter Two

I Know You Will Help Me

Psalm 121

The Nightingale’s Praise

Chapter Three

Please Fix that Car, Lord,

and Find Me a Buyer

The Great Mystery of Life

Chapter Four

A Plea for Guidance and

Direction in Meeting Goals

Psalm 23

First Letter to the Reader

Chapter Five

Take This Cup from Me

Solace

Chapter Six

Fear of Not Meeting Deadlines

Have You Ever …

Chapter Seven

A Plea for Help and Strength

Second Letter to the Reader

Thanksgiving Letter

Chapter Eight

Reflections on the Thanksgiving Letter and on Faith

The Day I Spoke with Jesus

Psalm 100

Chapter Nine

Believe in Miracles!

Epilogue

Sources

Preface

Why did I want to share this personal story? The simple answer is: my dear friend Sandra Ginyard encouraged me to do it. But to put things in their proper perspective, the Lord, in a very roundabout way, used her as His messenger to plant the idea into my mind.

My very personal letters of prayer, written to God while I was in Jamaica, had been sitting in the back of my Bible ever since my arrival in the United States in December of 1984. I knew they were there but except for the first couple of months in 1985, I never thought much about them until that day in 1991 when Sandra invited me to lunch. She had been the first person to befriend me on my job in Washington, DC in April of 1985. We have been friends ever since, and our lunch that day, in the cafeteria at the office, was just an impromptu get-together.

We had finished eating when she told me that she had something for me in her car. We walked together to the parking garage, and she took out a book from the trunk of her car. She handed it to me, saying, You are the person to whom I am to give this book. She further explained that it was a book of poems that had been written by a woman who had not been a writer, but who got up one morning and started writing poems of a religious nature. The book had been her first published work. I quickly glanced through the pages of simple, yet moving poems, and immediately thought of the letters of prayer in the back of my Bible. I have no idea why they came into my thoughts at that time, but they did.

I said to Sandra, I could do something like this.

She looked at me and repeated her statement, this time with conviction: That’s why you are the person to whom I am to give this book.

That evening, I rushed home and read the letters that were in my family Bible. While reading them, I recalled when they were written and why. I had composed them during a very busy four-month period of my life in Jamaica, prior to the relocation of my family to the United States. I also remembered that the good Lord had answered all of those prayers in one way or another. I thought to myself, If that woman could publish her book of religious poems, perhaps I could share some of these simple letters with others. My story might just help someone who needs encouragement and inspiration. These thoughts were so new to me, because never in my wildest dreams had I ever thought of sharing these personal letters with anyone.

I selected seven of the letters that had best captured my four-month experience and immediately started on the outline of my story. I worked feverishly into the night, as if I were on a mission. By the next day, I had completed my first rough draft (and one of many) of Seven Letters to Heaven.

Thanks to Sandra for revealing God’s will to me in that simple statement: That’s why you are the person to whom I am to give this book. I could not be more convinced that sharing my story was the Lord’s plan for me. This plan, however, was put on hold for several years, as I got caught up with the distractions of daily living; but I knew that someday I would finish this task.

I would like to thank my dear husband, Gary, for getting me to that someday. He spent the last ten years constantly reminding me that I had a book to complete. He also read and edited many revisions; sustaining and nourishing me during the times when I totally immersed myself in completing the book. My humble gratitude goes to Fay Massie for her generous and invaluable comments and advice. Her useful feedback pushed me to reveal more of my innermost thoughts and experiences, which helped the story to come alive. Special thanks to Teia Thompson-Brown as well, for patiently responding to all my questions on formatting during the last month of the completion of my book. Not to be left out either is the feedback that I got from my two children: in two different reactions received from two people I love dearly, Gail provided interesting comments that gave me food for thought, and Kevin expressed his pride in me for accomplishing my goal.

I want to express appreciation to my friends and family who, over