427- A Letter Opening Heavens Doors

In one of the evening church meetings, a young lady came to talk to the priest. Her face was very troubled.

“It’s been four years now that I’m full of terrible anxiety. My heart has no peace and I haven’t been happy.

“What is the reason?”

“If I knew the reason I wouldn’t have come to you.”

“You definitely know the reason, for you determined the time to be four years.”

“I don’t know the reason.”

“Go back to the beginning of the four years and try to remember the reason.”

The young lady did not talk for a while and then said: “I remember something that occurred at that time. I had a fight with an old friend even though we loved each other dearly. I felt that it was my fault and I wanted to apologize but I hesitated. Finally, she left town.”

The priest commented saying, “If you know the reason, the solution is easy.”

She asked, “How? She left town!”

He said, “Write a letter of apology to her.”

“After four years?”

“Why not? For your peace and hers so that God returns the joy of salvation to you.”

“I can’t do that.”

“If you can’t write a letter of apology, happiness shall not come back to your heart.”

The lady was quiet for a while then went home struggling with her feelings. Everyday she postponed writing the letter to the following day.

A year passed and the priest was surprised to see the lady coming to see him at one of the meetings. She looked joyful all over.

“Do you remember me?”

“Yes, you are the lady I met a year ago.”

“I came to thank you. God gave me back the joy of salvation for I followed your advice.”

“Thank God, for He wants to fill us with His peace and heavenly joy. Did you write the letter?”

“I wrote it yesterday after struggling with it for a whole year. Finally I felt very bitter and knelt to pray. I implored God’s grace to move me, to hold my hand and push me to write the letter. I felt a strange yearning for my friend so I wrote her a tearful letter apologizing. Then I went to put the letter in the mailbox at midnight. I couldn’t wait till morning. To tell you the truth, the moment the letter went in the mailbox, the gates of heaven opened before my eyes. Heaven was back in my heart. I realized the meaning of David’s words:

“Restore to me the joy of your salvation” (Ps. 51.12).

→ English translation of the story here at St-Takla.org: خطاب يفتح أبواب السماء!

May Your Grace fill me.

I fulfill Your commandment with humility.

I am happy to obey Your Will.

Your commandment is a joy to my heart.

You restore heaven to my heart and open my eyes to see Your Glory.

Different From Us

Short Stories (Stories for the Youth) Books by Father Tadros Yacoub Malaty

A Wolf’s Gift