48 - I Didn't Know What To Expect

By Kay Heitsch

I had no idea what to expect or even thought about what may happen when my letter "Loving Memory of Todd" was published. Boy, I was in for a surprise.

We had a landline back then, so when the phone rang, we answered it. I started to receive calls from strangers all over who had read the letter.

On the back of the magazine, it stated that the publication reached 118 countries.

One psychiatrist called, who explained he had a patient who wouldn't talk. After reading the letter, the patient asked the doctor to call me. He wanted to know what I had found that changed my life. I told this doctor I had found a personal relationship with the Lord.

Another person who continued to call was Dee, a woman I had known for many years.

We moved a lot from state to state. Dee had worked for Bill in another one of his stores. Now she was working for him again. Dee knew what I was like before and what I was like now.

Dee kept calling me, asking me to share my testimony at her church. This went on for several months. My answer was, "No!"

I tried to get Dee to understand this was too difficult. Yes, I wrote the letter with God's help, but that was a different experience. Talking about Todd's accident and his dying was too hard. I couldn't do it! Dee persisted.

Finally, Dee stopped asking. She called and let me know that her church was expecting me to share my testimony on Super Bowl Sunday night, and Bill could join me and sing first. I freaked out!

Now the Lord and I had a talk. I let the Lord know I could not go out and talk. What if I started to cry? The Lord wasn't moved. A thought came to my mind. "You couldn't write either. I helped you then, and I'll be with you now."

The day I shared my testimony, I was a wreck. I was sweating and shaking. I started to do my hair and makeup, and blood began to pour out of my nose. As my head was in the sink, this text came to my mind. I did not give you a spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind.

This shocked me and got my attention. I stood up and told Bill that if the devil's working this hard. Something good is bound to happen.

God knew what He was doing. The people in this church were loving and kind. When I finished sharing, people walked right up front and hugged me.

God was again making something good out of Todd's death.