57 ~ Slowly Accepting Todd's Death

By Kay Heitsch

After the announcement and write-up in the newspaper, I began to receive numerous requests to share my testimony.

I have no sense of direction. There was no GPS to help back in the day. Bill laughed and said he knew this must be something God wanted me to do because I would take off.

Every now and then, my friend Dimple would accompany me. Dimple liked to always say she was pushing 100 when anyone asked her age. We were quite the team.

It didn't matter that I had no clue about the directions. Somehow, whenever I asked for directions, people were always willing to help me. Some even had me follow them. I was never late.

My biggest problem was trying to control myself from starting to cry. I would gain control over one part of the message, but then I would choke up somewhere else.

I was asked to ride along with a man and share my testimony at his meetings. We usually went out once a week. I shared with him how I was sorry I couldn't seem to get a grip on my emotions.

What I found interesting was what he told me. He said that when I paused and wiped a tear, it gave the audience permission to show their feelings too. Thanks to him, the pressure was off.

What I was finding out was that, having to tell my story over and over, I was slowly beginning to accept Todd's death.

This may seem odd to some of you. That's okay. But others know that with a sudden, unexpected death of your child, it's hard to accept they won't be walking back through the door they left from.

I could see God was bringing good out of Todd's death, and I was slowly beginning to accept it.

56 ~ Newspaper & Classmate's Letter

By Kay Heitsch

Soon after I received the award, the people at the Peale Center sent the letter, "In Loving Memory of Todd," along with the announcement that I had received the Norman Vincent Peale Award, to our local newspaper.

Much to my surprise, the newspaper decided to publish the story with Todd's picture.

It wasn't long afterwards that I received a letter from a classmate of Todd's.

In the letter, this girl explained that when she heard Todd had been in an accident, she prayed that Todd would live, and God would do what was best for the Kingdom.

When she learned Todd had died, she was devastated. As a result, she was angry and her faith was shaken.

But now, after reading the newspaper and seeing all the good things God was doing through Todd's death, her faith was restored.

I was blessed that this sweet classmate of Todd's took the time to write me and share how her faith had been restored.

I don't believe God causes tragedy, but I believe God uses these tragedies to accomplish what is right for His kingdom.

55 ~ The Positive Thinking Seminar

By Kay Heitsch

I never in my wildest dreams ever thought I would receive such an award.

My parents had both died, so I called Aunt Carmeleta. Let me tell you, she was excited.

Ric explained that I could bring a guest. Bill couldn't go, so Aunt Carmeleta was thrilled that I asked her to come along with me.

I called my friend, Ann, who lived in Michigan, and told her the news. Ann said she was going to fly to Atlanta to be there.

The morning of the Positive Thinking Seminar, Ann and I discovered that we were both wearing almost identical suits.

We both had hot pink jackets. However, my skirt was black, but Ann's skirt was dark blue. What were the odds of that? We all had a laugh.

We rode down the elevator with some professional football players. Boy, those guys were huge.

Once we walked into the auditorium, we found some seats in the back. All of a sudden, a guy came up and called me by name. I didn't know him, but I found out it was Ric. Ric recognized me from the picture I had sent.

Ric asked what we were doing sitting in the back. He then ushered Aunt Carmeleta and Ann right down to the front row. The next thing I knew, Ric brought me up on the platform. I sat down. Oh my gosh, this was unreal!

The next thing I knew, I saw Dr. and Mrs. Peale walk up on the platform and sit down. Dr. Peale looked down my way. He pointed his finger at me and said, "I know you!"

I immediately jumped out of my seat and ran over to give them both a big hug.

I didn't care what anyone thought. Dr. Peale's books had changed my life. He introduced me to a better way of living through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I had to hug him!

I'll never forget this wonderful experience. Dr. Peale and everyone involved with the Peale Center were humble, kind, and loving. I'm forever thankful God brought them into my life.

54 ~ God Had A Better Plan

By Kay Heitsch

I was thrilled to hear that a Positive Thinking Seminar was scheduled for June 14-15 in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Since we lived in Ohio, this would be the perfect opportunity for me to see Dr. Peale in person.

I put this pamphlet on the counter in the kitchen and prayed that if it were the Lord's will, I would be able to attend the conference in Cincinnati.

The Cincinnati seminar came and went, and I wasn't able to attend. Let me tell you, I was very disappointed.

A few weeks later, I received another phone call from Ric. He had some great news!

Ric told me that after Dr. Peale received my follow-up letter, he wanted to give me his Norman Vincent Peale Award.

This award will be presented to me at the Positive Thinking Seminar in Atlanta, Georgia, on September 20-21. I was in shock!

Along with me, Dr. Peale would be giving this award to General Colin Powell and Angel Wallenda. I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

Ric asked me to send a picture of myself for the magazine cover. I don't like having my picture taken, but Ric insisted.

After our phone call, I found the pamphlet. I looked and, right under the Cincinnati, Ohio seminar, was the Atlanta, Georgia seminar. I had never noticed Atlanta, Georgia, because I was so focused on Cincinnati.

What was truly amazing was that our last foster children had left. I was free to go. Additionally, my flight and hotel expenses were also covered.

You know I prayed for Cincinnati, but God had a better plan.

53 ~ The Next Letter

By Kay Heitsch

I wasn't expecting the Peale Center to stay in touch after they published my letter In Loving Memory of Todd, but they did.

Ric, Dr. Peale's editor, and Ann, his assistant, called me every so often. They always asked what was going on in my life.

You never know what foster children may bring into your home.

When Ric called this week, I had been dealing with scabies and pink eye. I was stripping beds, washing towels and clothes, spraying Rid on the furniture and interior of the van, and rubbing cream on everyone. I also put drops in for the pink eye. To top it off, we had to make another trip to Michigan on the weekend.

Ric was a single guy. I don't think he had any idea how much work it would be to deal with all of this when he asked if I would write Dr. Peale another letter.

Ric explained this would be a follow-up letter telling Dr. Peale what had been going on since my last letter. They wanted to publish it.

I reminded Ric I was not a professional writer. Also, In Loving Memory of Todd, I wrote it so fast that I didn't even feel I was writing it. Ric ignored my excuses and said he would expect my letter on Monday.

I let Ric know if this was something the Lord wanted me to do, I'm sure it would be there. If not, it wouldn't.

I set up the card table in our bedroom with our old typewriter on it. I put a sheet of paper in.

In between cleaning, spraying, washing, applying cream, cooking, and packing, I would type a few words that came to my mind.

Much to my delight, by Friday, the letter was ready, and I sent it to Ric for Dr. Peale.

Saturday morning, everyone was cleared up, and we headed for Michigan.

Time passed, I was pretty busy, and I forgot about the letter.

52 ~ 2:00 AM Phone Call

By Kay Heitsch

When I answered the phone in the middle of the night, I was half asleep. I could hear someone sobbing on the other end of the line.

It took a few minutes for me to understand what was being said. But eventually the caller calmed down enough to talk.

Through sobs, I learned that someone at the hospital had given the caller my name. I suppose she looked up my number in the phone book.

Now this distraught mother shared why she was calling. She explained that she had been mowing the lawn with a tractor while holding her little boy. Somehow, he slipped off her lap, and she ran over him. Her precious son was dead.

Oh my God, help me! I didn't know what to say. This must be a nightmare. But I knew it wasn't.

During our conversation, I learned there was another child in the family. There was a little girl. Now I was told the day and time when this precious child's funeral would be. I knew I should attend.

Out of the blue, right before I went to the funeral, I thought I should stop by K-Mart and buy a stuffed animal. I bought a gift bag with tissue paper and put the toy inside.

When I walked into the funeral home, I spotted this little girl. I walked over and handed her the bag. Her sweet eyes lit up. It wasn't much, but I believe this little gift helped in some way.

This was a horrible tragedy, but once again, God gave me an idea of how to show His love and to also bring something good out of Todd's death.