Today, I want to focus on the letter Jimmy wrote to Ellie, his sister, to be read in case he was killed. The last two paragraphs say this:
"I wanted to be there for all the important stuff in your life. The first day of high school and your first date. Graduation and getting married. But I'm not sorry that I came over here. I don't want some crazy guy like Hitler taking over the world. There are worse things than dying. Like knowing you could've done the right thing...and you didn't. Like not really living while you are alive. I'm just sorry I'm not coming home.
I won't be around in the flesh, but you know I'll always be there. Just look in your heart, and I will always be there. And if you listen real hard, you will hear me saying, "I'm proud of you, Movie Star. You're doing fine."
Be a good girl , and help Mom and Pop all you can.
Love always, Jimmy
P.S. Don't forget to let the joy out."
This letter is SO redemptive to me. In fact, I want to share it with the mother who lost her son in Afghanistan last Thursday. I'm particularly encouraged by these points:
- We have to do what we consider the right thing.
- We always have the people we love in our hearts.
- We must let the joy out, instead of letting it lie dormant in our lives.
Thank you, Mary Ann, for providing wisdom for those suffering the loss of a soldier.
Other Participants In The Blog Tour for Jimmy's Stars:
01 Charger
A Childhood of Dreams
A Christian Worldview of Fiction
A Mom Speaks
All About Children's Books
Becky's Book Reviews
Book Review Maniac
By The Book Reviews
Fireside Musings
Home School Buzz
Looking Glass Reviews
Maggie Reads
Maw Books
Small World Reads
The Friendly Book Nook
The Hidden Side Of A Leaf
6 comments:
Oh my goodness-now I know why you had those thoughts about Jimmy dying at the beginning of the book and hoping beyond hope that he doesn't. By the way, I saw the picture you posted the other day but wasn't really sure how to comment. I guess--thanks for posting and for the support and my heart goes out to your mother's neighbor. Whether or not we agree with what is going on we still need to support our troops.
Trish, bloody posts (those spilling out lots of grief, even if it's others') are always tricky to respond to. I often don't know what to say when I read someone's, but I think it just helps the writer to get it out. It's so ironic that this book tour came in the same week that Tony was killed. I keep wondering if I should give a copy to his mother because truly, Mary Ann Rodman had some comforting things to say. If someone needs more than their faith. Which is what I always turn to first.
I agree with you, no matter one's stance on the war itself, we must support our troops.
Mary Ann Rodman here. I don't know if it cricket to comment on your own book on blog, but Bellezza, I wanted you to know how touched I was by your comment on Jimmy' last letter. I am a big believer in reality in children's books...but I am also believe that children need hope (we ALL need hope!) I would also like you to know that I must have written that letter about fifty times...and it never came out write. It was either to maudlin or too obviously tear-jerking, or too something. It was the last thing I wrote, and I wrote it the day my mother had a major stroke and it seemed that she would not live. I started typing, really having no idea what I was saying. When I stopped, I realized that those were not my feelings, not my thoughts, but God's. I am not saying that I am some fabulous person who God picked out to send word to his people I think that my own emotions and feelings and ideas of what this letter should be about were totally wiped on that day, and so God did not have to shout over my own noisy thoughts and opinions to get his message through. And for anyone who wonders why Jimmy didn't specifically mention that he was in Heaven, you have to realize that this was a different time and place. Jimmy was a Christian who was at peace with himself and his God. This was not a time when people spent a great deal of time on introspection (they were too busy trying to survive!). Jimmy assumed he would see his Heavenly Father, and once she accepted his death, he knew Ellie would, too.
Bellezza, my condolences to your friend who lost her son in Afghanistan. May God grant her His grace to sustain her through this sad time. I will remember her in my prayers, just as i do everyone who serves our country, in whatever capacity.
Best and love to yu al,
Mary Ann
This book will be a must-read for me. How wonderful for the author of this book to express her thoughts about writing the book and especially the letter.
Tropical Storm Fay did not come my way at all. We had a litttle bit of wind and not very much rain. That is not the same in other places, and while it is not a hurricane, there has been a lot of wind and rain...good "fire" drill for the real thing.
Thank you so much for drawing attention to this very important part of the book. I think Jimmy's "Don't forget to let the joy out" are words that we should all live by.
Mary Ann, I so appreciate you taking the time to leave a long, explanatory comment on this post. It was fascinating to me to know that you had trouble with that letter, because it was one of the most powerful parts of the book to me. Apparently, riding our emotions (and letting Him have the ultimate control of ourselves) paid off. Also, I like that out of the adversity of your mother's situation came wisdom.
Beverly, I was so relieved to see that the hurricane descending on Florida was not going to wreak such havoc as presumed. Phew! Glad to know you're safe. By the way, I started Girl Meets God, and I cannot put it down. I only wish I would have started it sooner. What an incredible writer, I just love it, and I'll write a post on it when I finish. THANK YOU for sending it to me!!!
Marya, I think we should live by them too; even though on some days the joy may seem lost it's always there somewhere.
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