Heartsongs Helping Our Troops

Our local Curves is collecting items to send overseas to our troops. There’s quite a pile growing in the center of the exercise circle, everything from toiletries to Christmas decorations. As my mom and I worked out last night we discussed what we could give. I showed my mom the books I had already brought in and told her about a call that Heartsong customer service received several months ago.

The lady’s name was Nancy, and she had been receiving her daughter’s monthly shipment of Heartsong books and then sending them on to Iraq where her daughter was serving in the military. But Nancy had called to let us know that her daughter had recently been killed while on duty. Nancy had wonderful things to say about the impact the Heartsong books had on her daughter and her fellow soldiers whom she shared them with. She said even some of the men enjoyed reading them, and most importantly, they opened doors for her daughter to share the gospel with many of her friends. Some even accepted Christ because of our Heartsong books.

I spoke with Nancy on the phone a couple times myself and originally she said she would send me a letter that would more specifically tell her daughter’s story so that I could post it on the blog. I didn’t want to mess up the details, and Nancy needed to make sure what information she was allowed to disclose to me.

I haven’t received that letter yet from Nancy. I know she was suffering from some health problems, and I imagine the busyness of life has gotten in the way. But I wanted to share at least a bit of this story as an example of the impact our books can have. Some might look at Heartsongs and think of them as nothing more than romantic “fluff”, but to others—even some our brave servicemen and women—they provide encouragement, hope, and an opportunity to know the Savior.

Remember to pray for our troops, and remember to use your writing to share the knowledge of Jesus Christ with others. You never know how or where God will use it!

Please also pray for the family and friends of Heartsong author, Judy Sagal. Her coauthor, Ann Bell, emailed yesterday to let us know Judy had passed away on August 20th. Ann said, “Judy was probably one of the oldest survivors with spina bifida. In spite of being wheelchair bound all her life, she married and had held a responsible job with the federal government before becoming bedridden in recent months. The book Mended Wheels (HP 494) presented similar challenges and victories that Judy faced within her personal life.”