A Message from Heaven

By Linda Clay Anderson

A family's love is the best kind of love. It is the first love we learn through our parents and siblings. God express his love for us when he gave his only son to save us. Life is a challenge; sometimes the choices and chances we take are wrong, and then there are the ones we learn from that makes us strong. Don't be so quick to give up on one another. You never know when the road will curve in your life. Family or not, be kind and respectful to one another, 'cause in the blink of an eye, things can change. Stop holding on to hate and letting hate take over. Jeanette made the choice to leave and get help for her addiction. She took the chance on putting it off until later. We aren't the judge of one another, so we cannot say or assume she was too late to turn around. What took place between her and God is unknown. Losing Jeanette was a very hard chapter in our lives. Raising her four daughters with so much sadness, hurt, and anger wasn't easy for us. We managed to keep all four girls within the family; holding on to God's grace, we gave plenty of love and patience to raise these four beautiful girls. No one can predict what will happen in our lifetime. We will lose loved ones and friends along the way. Whether it's by a violent crime, accident, sickness, or old age, it will cause deep pain. These four girls lost their mother at a very young age and with no father to lean on. Now they are grown and raising families of their own. A couple's love is a special bond between two people, but to find a special person is to have a bond with God. You can pray to God day and night, but if you aren't living right, he won't hear you. No one is perfect, but to do your best by living by his word, and he will overlook the rest. He loves us unconditionally that is why he laid down on the cross for us. I myself had given up on love because of so many broken promises and failed relationships. I felt this late in life, love wasn't in the stars for me, so I turned it over to God and left it there. And just when I thought all was lost, there he was, an old friend whom I once had the sparkles of a thousand stars for but never expressed it. To me, the time we lost touch had never happened, about four years or so. He was still that tall, handsome, warm-spirited gentleman I met years ago. We continue being friends like no time had passed until he said six words that will be forever imbedded in my heart, "You know I like you, right?" From there, a beautiful relationship was started.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Mar 2, 2020
• ISBN: 9781645159858

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Linda Clay Anderson

A Message from Heaven

ISBN 978-1-64515-984-1 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-64515-985-8 (digital)

Copyright © 2019 by Linda Clay Anderson

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

A Christmas Prayer

To my Cooper Tire Family and everyone who’s going through something. We are about to go on another journey in our lives. Some will be more difficult than others, but as we go on this journey, let’s remember we’re not alone. God is here for us. We may not quite understand His powers and how they work, but if we open our hearts to him and love one another as he wants, the light we seek will shine.

Although Cooper is closing, let’s not close our hearts. Cooper is where we found new friends, old friends, and spouses. As we go into the Christmas holidays hold on to the good times and hold each other up in prayer. No one knows where this life will take us or what we’ll have to go through before we get to the end. So, as we celebrate the birth of Christ, celebrate the joy of life. God didn’t bring us this far to leave us out in the cold. Be strong, be kind, and believe; then, we will achieve.

No Matter

No matter how much money we make or how much the government takes, no matter if we win or lose, what counts is paying the Lord our dues.

No matter what the color of our skin, no matter how high we hold our chin, what counts is holding our hand out to a friend.

No matter what we go through, what we lose along the way, never lose faith because it is the guide to lead us to a better day.

No matter how many doors close, no matter how many locks are locked, God will open a door if we knock. No matter what.

Introduction

She was just a small-town girl living in an upside-down world doing the best she could; then, she’s introduced to the darkness. Her life starts spinning out of control but with a loving family beside her to help her any way they could. They never turned their backs on her.

They were a close family bonded through the love of God and raising seven children in times of hardship wasn’t easy. They did the best they could and kept on praying. Now thirty years later, the loss of one of their children was a devastating chapter in their lives; although she had turned to a life of drugs, she never turned her soul over to the darkness. With four beautiful daughters, her heart remained pure.

Now having to raise their granddaughters after their father has left the scene and their mother murdered, life would be another challenge in this family’s world. Her death went unsolved for eleven years, until a turn of events happened, and the killer was brought to justice. A day of trials, reliving nightmares, and then the verdict was in.

The girls tell about the trials they went through before and after their mother’s death; they share their thoughts and introduce their own families. Her sister shares their life story as she learns to live again and finds her life partner through God. Love builds a strong bond between two people, and with prayer, it will stand.

Some will understand this family’s loss, and some will share their pain. There will be those who could care less, and for the ones who feel nothing, I pray for you.

This young woman was my sister twice; through Christ, she was yours. So as you read, remember your childhood, think about the mistakes you have made and the sins you have committed. If you can’t picture any, picture Jesus on the cross, and then you will see a child loss. A heart isn’t a heart without love. If we open our wings, we can fly like a beautiful butterfly.

The world is full of so much anger; what are we fighting for? Yesterday has past, today is a blessing, and what tomorrow holds is a mystery, so let’s take one day at a time and learn to love life.

Second Chance

As he wondered through the garden of Eve picking fruits and berries from the trees and touching the animals with a gentle ease, and although he was surrounded by beautiful flowers, streams, and lakes, God realized he needed a mate.

From your ribs, he created me. I was wrong to disobey. Now the life of sin we had to pay. God sent his son to save us, if we repent and ask the way. I was blind and couldn’t see. Now I know. God sent you to me.

You are my Adam. I am your Eve. God gave us a second chance because he is pleased.

Chapter 1

Two Hearts Connected

They were two souls destined to meet. Some people go a lifetime never finding true love; then, there are the ones in life that feel the need for security, so they settle. When two people come together as one, they should seek God’s blessing. Love is a blessing from God, and without his blessing, love will not last. Sometimes a marriage will not survive if one partner discovers the love of God and the other one can’t handle the change. Unless both have enough love and patience for each other, the marriage will end. People get married for different reasons, love, security, the need to feel wanted, unexpected pregnancy, I could go on and on. These marriages can’t survive the test of time, unless they can find a way to work through their problems and keep God first. Marriage is a challenge. It takes three, but before the step into marriage is taken, we should get to know each other first, become friends before lovers, learn to see a person from inside out instead of outside in. The secret to a great relationship is having a strong relationship with God.

R. C. Clay was the oldest of ten, born May 5, 1932, in Dawson, Georgia, to Luther Clay Sr. and Johnnie Will Knighton Clay. His four brothers are Luther Jr., Tommy Lee, Willie James, and Johnny C.; five sisters included Katherine, Betty, Margie, Ethel, and Lucille. They all lived in the Dawson area and was well known. They would go from finishing school to the work world. Luther Jr.’s life was cut short early in life, and later, Johnnie Will’s life ended. She was a devoted wife and mother; soon after, Luther Sr. would depart this life. He had been a devoted husband and father. It wasn’t until later down the road Tommy Lee would travel to the other side. Now left to carry the breath of life of this family was the remaining eight siblings. No matter how large or small a family is, God had enough love for us all. We are all special in his eyes.

Louvenia Brown was the fourth oldest of thirteen, born July 3, 1934, in Dawson, Georgia, to Tommy C. Brown and Lizzie Mae Nelson Brown. Her seven brothers are Fletcher C., George L., Charlie C., Aurther Lee, Hubert Lee, Johnny Lee, and James L. Five sisters included Rosie Lillie, Lula Mae, Bertha Mae, Alice Mae, and Shirley Mae.

They also lived in the Dawson area, until their parents made the decision to relocate to Fayetteville, North Carolina, where their oldest son, Fletcher C., had joined the service. Most of the children were grown by now; some made the decision to stay because their lives had taken roots of their own.

Their father felt there would be better opportunities for them up North, so they said their prayers and good-byes. They headed down the road of uncertainties, with a prayer of a better tomorrow. Louvenia, Rosie Lillie, Lula Mae, and Bertha Mae are the four that stayed behind but kept close contact with their family. The families would gather together and travel from Georgia to North Carolina and the ones from North Carolina would do the same. They are indeed a close-knit family. Family reunions would be started every year. Some families relocate and lose contact with their family members, but not this one. Some of us have family right around the corner and won’t even pick up the phone or go by and visit; why is this? The race of the world, a disagreement, or feel they’re too busy.

Our parents couldn’t afford to travel as much as some of the other families. Having seven children wasn’t easy, but