LAST LETTER TO LLOYD GOODWIN
Galatians 6:7-8 Do
not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who
sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one
who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
The reason that I wrote this letter in the first
place is because my son, Jeremie and I were in a store doing some shopping and
two of the sisters from the church were in there. I always tried to be friendly
when I ran into some one from the church and if I came in contact I would just
try and stay out of their way or just say hello or something. One of these
women, an older sister, had been a very dear friend for many years and had been
like a Mom to me. The other one, I had never met. They approached us and the
older lady gave me a hug, if I remember right and said hi to Jeremie and said
that we needed to come back to church. I knew that she must not remember or her
memory was fading as to what had happened. However she knew Jeremie and I very
well. I explain in the letter what happened after that. The other woman was
very sweet and had a genuine concern and was just trying to win us "back
to the Lord." I know that it was not her who twisted the words that were
spoken in the next service because I knew how Lloyd Goodwin had twisted the
words about so many other things. By this time, I didn't even think about it
too much unless I ran in to someone from the church. But there were many people
that I really missed.
From reports that I got from friends, I was told that he made the statement that I had told her that I was his worst enemy, which was far from what I had actually said. I have never been Lloyd Goodwin's or anyone else's enemy for that matter. I tried to be a friend. I don't know why but I just had to write this letter and in my heart, I knew that it would be the last one. Less than four months later, he was dead and I was glad I had written it.
MARCH 26, 1996
Dear Brother Goodwin:
I know that it's been several years since I
have written you a letter and I said then that I wouldn't write anymore but I
just felt like I should write, at least one more time.
I even write, Brother,
because since I wrote last time, I have learned a lot. I'm really sorry that it
had to be the way it is. This was never my intention, whether you believe that
or not. There is a real sadness in my heart, not only for you, but also for all
those who were my friends, brothers and sisters in Christ. I still love all of
you and pray for you. I'm not sad for myself because God has blessed me in so
many ways. I have never been more at peace with my Lord and my life than I am
now. We have a good Christian home because Christ is the center of it and not
MAN.
I know that God loves you also, just as much
as He loves me. I never was your judge and never will be. God is so much more
tolerant and long-suffering than we could ever be. We are all brothers and
sisters in His eyes. We're all just at different stages of development. When we
grow up, we really should quit acting like little brats, but should never quit
being children in our ways of forgiving etc.... After all, we must become as
little children to enter the kingdom.
I just wanted to respond to one of your
recent sermons about me. I hope that it was (-----) that mistook what I said
and that you didn't twist it. First of all, I did not seek her out. I didn't
even know who she was. She was with Sister (----) and she was the first to
speak. Sister (----) kept telling us that we needed to come back to church and
I very gently said that I didn't think you (LLG) wanted us to come back and
(---) spoke up and said, "Oh yes he would!" She said this over and
over. I just looked at her and said, "You don't know who I am do
you?" She said "no" and I said:
"Well, Brother Goodwin considers
me to be one of his worst enemies (not that
I was your worst enemy) and if anyone saw you talking to me, you
would be in trouble." Then she said, "Oh no, he has really changed
and even got up and repented for the way he used to be and that you had been
teaching about how we all walk to the beat of a different drummer." I
said, "Well that's good because he needed to repent and he still has a lot
of repenting to do." Then they just kept saying that we needed to come
back and I just finally said, "I'm very thankful for everything that I had
learned from you and the church but that I had moved on and really wasn't
interested in going back. I told her that I could tell her things that would
make her hair stand on end but I wouldn't and that as long as she was happy and
didn't feel that her freedom was being taken from her to stay and enjoy God's
blessings. I really meant that too!
You know, Brother Goodwin, I really do
appreciate all that I've learned from you. I've learned to "Eat the straw
and spit out the sticks" so to speak.
A lot of people have been hurt very badly by
you but also helped by you. The only power that you have over a person's life
is what they give you. It's just that most people don't know that.
I know that God's judgment is righteous and
that He really allows us to judge ourselves.
Galatians 6:7
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A
man reaps what he sows.
Proverbs 11:21
Be sure of this: The wicked will not go
unpunished, but those who are righteous will go free.
It's just simply a matter of sowing and
reaping. We reap what we sow. I have only told people the truth.
"You shall know the truth and the truth
shall set you free."
My prayers are that you will allow the Holy
Spirit to guide you into all truth so that you may go free.
Sincerely in Christ,
Wanda Mason
