My Cousin

I got a great letter from my cousin today. He wants more pen-pals. Every so often he asks me if I know of anyone else who would like to write to him.

It’s always nice to get letters from him, because a few years ago he got born-again, and he is growing by leaps and bounds in The Word. He has so many questions about the things of God. We have in-depth “conversations” on doctrinal issues.

And he has a lot of time to read The Word, and all of the commentaries he can get ahold of.

He also has lots of time to put his thoughts into writing and mail them to me.

Bless his heart! My letters in return to him are never as detailed or complete. Sometimes I resort to copying and printing sermons off the internet to mail to him because I just don’t have time to write enough “meat” to satisfy him.

You see, my cousin has a lot of time. He’s serving a life term in prison.

He got born-again in prison, Praise the Lord! And, I have been writing to him for ten years.

But when he asks for someone else to write to him, what can I say? I don’t know of anyone else who wants to write letters to a man who could get released from prison with a SO record. Most of my friends have little children, and wouldn’t want him to know how to get in touch with them when and if he is released. After all, getting born-again doesn’t necessarily mean that you wouldn’t fall back into old habits if outside again.

So, I just keep writing to him, encouraging him, and praying for him. Then I just ignore the plea for more pen-pals.