I picked up this book in a gas station somewhere between North Carolina and Virginia. (It must have been on the border of Virginia/North Carolina because the line was very long for the lotto!)
I have a 19-year old away at school. He was brought up in the church and quite honestly he likes going to church. We’ve never add problems getting him to participate in church activities. So I feel he has the religious roots to stand on. However, being away from home, I know he is being challenged in his church attendance. More importantly I want him to “know the Lord” not just attend church. Flipping through the book at the store aroused enough of my interest to purchase it. I read it first before giving it to my son and was even more impressed. That’s when I ordered 10 more to give to my husband, pastor, nephews, cousins, and brother-in-law being deployed to Kuwait.
I gave the book to my son the week before his Spring Break and told him I expected him to read it once, twice or as many times as necessary over Spring Break to get the message. And I would be quizzing him to be sure he read it. He truly surprised me and called to tell me he was almost done with it the week I gave it to him. My note inside the book said to him to pass it on to a friend if it benefited him. He said he had highlighted so much of the book, he wanted to keep his and could I send him 2 more to give to his room mates. (Yesterday he wanted 2 more for others who saw him reading it.)
I have not heard from my nephews that I gave it to. They may need a little more encouragement to read it, but that’s why I gave it to them. They truly need “encouragement for a difficult journey”.
Every Black young man that I know I want to share this with them and their parents. Some co-workers asked for some too. I teach Sunday School, ages 8-11 and I will use the section entitled, “Things I wished someone had told me at age 12″ with my class.
I sent one book to a previous Sunday School student who is now incarcerated. The book was returned with a note that books could only be given to inmates if they were shipped directly from the printer or a bookstore. It would truly be a blessing to get this book into the prison.