1,295 Mile Phone Call
Jun 27th, 2007 | By Jeff | Category: LifeI just got off the phone with Jerry Rich who is in Chicago, 1295 miles away. Jerry is my uncle. I have never met Jerry because I have never met his brother Harold who is my biological Father. In fact until about a year ago I didn’t even know I had an Uncle Jerry. So after a couple of emails over the past year we ended up talking tonight. Now if I were to rate phone calls I would have to say that this call was one of the best phone calls I have ever had. Some of what I learned is emotionally hard but at the same time I am greatly encouraged that my relatives on my biological Father’s side are believers in Jesus. I also learned that my Grandfather, who I can’t ever remember meeting prayed for me daily. This is so amazing. I wish I could have told him that when I was 16 God answered his prayers and I accepted Christ. My Grandfather George Rich has already passed away, but because of his relationship with Christ and mine I know that I will get to meet him. This is so comforting and encouraging. Prayer is powerful, because God listens.
I am also going to try and get in touch with my cousin Jeremiah (who I mentioned in my previous blog post). Jerry said that his son and two daughters have always wanted to have contact with me. So I guess now is as good a time as any to make contact.
All of this has me in a bit of an emotional spin at the moment, but I am so grateful for the opportunity to make contact with relatives that have wanted contact with me for so many years.
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Hey Jeff, this is Charis, Jerry’s older daughter. Jeremiah sent me the link to your website. I’m so glad that you’ve been able to be in contact with my dad and my brother. It was great reading your blog and I hope we can stay in touch. Grandpa really was an amazing person… he kept a list of people to pray for, which he prayed through every day. Along with praying for our family, he prayed for each person individually, which meant a lot to us. Anyway, have a great week and enjoy your summer.
Love always,
Charis
Awesome. Yeah that’s all I can say….
Charis,
I am glad you came by my blog. I look forward to getting to know all of my cousins. I think this is probably your last summer before college. So I will be praying for you.
Blessings,
Jeff
Jeff,
This is your cousin Anna. I just got back from an AMAZING experience at camp. God spoke to me in amazing ways and I have forgiven myself for everything I have ever done wrong thanks to the help of Jesus Christ. When I got home my dad told me that you two talked. Jeff, you don’t know this but I’ve always kept you in my prayers. Grandpa loved you. He loved all of us so much. He prayed for each and every one of us every single day. When grandpa died we put four roses in the casket. One rose for each grandchild. We’ve never forgotten you and we will never forget you. Anyways, I’m thrilled to hear that God is working in your life and I’m looking forward to getting to know you.
Your cousin,
Anna
[...] 4. I learned that I have relatives on my biological Father’s side that have been praying for me my entire life. This has been an amazing and encouraging experience. I know God has heard their prayers and has guided me to where I am today. Learning all of this is a mixed bag of emotions from excitement to sadness. Wishing that I could have had the opportunity to know them as I was growing up, but I can’t change the past and can only move forward and see what happens. I wrote about this initial phone call on June 27th of this year here. [...]