Home Uncategorized Let It Go, by Chris Williams (Giveaway)

Let It Go, by Chris Williams (Giveaway)

by Jamie

I saw this picture yesterday on Facebook and thought it beautifully simple and profound. What Mr. Rogers has to say is plain truth. Amid tragedy, and terrible circumstances there are always good, kind people there to pick up the pieces…lending a helping hand and providing a stable shoulder to cry on. It is amazing to watch, isn’t it? There are definitely still so many “helpers”.

In light of the Boston Marathon Bombing, I felt it best to save the recipe I had prepared for today’s post and share a little something else instead.

Let It Go by Chris Williams

This is a book I read last week.

“Let It Go” is about a man (Chris Williams) who lives here  in my city. Seven years ago his pregnant wife and two children were killed in a car accident by a drunk teenage driver. From the very night of the accident he chose to forgive the boy who was responsible for taking the life of his family members. I have been fascinated by this story from the time I heard reports of it here in the local news. How could any human being have the strength to forgive so quickly, and freely! It was a surprise to me, as I would imagine it to be to most people.

In the book Chris gives detailed explanation. He testifies of Christ and the blessings of forgiveness. While his road has not been easy, his choice to forgive has made the challenges of loss much easier to bear. Instead of embracing anger, hate or revenge he let go of those natural feelings and has taken hold of love, kindness…forgiveness.

I mention (and recommend) this book to you all today simply because, the world can be such a terrible place. There are plenty of  reasons to be angry.  Seeing innocent people become victim to senseless terrorism is so frustrating!  Most of us shake our heads with the words “why” rolling over and over in our minds. I haven’t ever been able to come up with a sufficient answer to that question. Have you? I don’t know why these things happen. What I do know is, I want to be one of the “helpers”.  I want to choose love and kindness. I hope to follow Chris Williams example of  charity.

You can watch a video on the Mormon Channel called “My Burden Was Made Light” about Chris and his family. Click here, or on the picture above to see it.

I would love to give a copy of “Let It Go” to two of you dear readers. To enter just leave me a comment below telling me something good! It can be an act of kindness you have witnessed. It can be something sweet your child did or said. It can be something good you would like to do for someone else. What ever you choose. 🙂 The giveaway will be open through Sunday night (April 21st). Winner will be announced Monday morning (April 22).

My family and I are praying for those of you effected by the terrible Boston Marathon Bombing. May you feel the love of God supporting you during this difficult time.

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92 comments

Katrina M. April 17, 2013 - 11:56 am

I saw that quote on facebook, and I immediately shared it, because I think it is such an important thing to remember!
Something good is that my boys (5yo twins) were helping their brothers by picking up their dirty clothes and making their beds for them. And this was done without my asking them to! It made me smile so big!!!

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Margie Huddleston April 17, 2013 - 11:58 am

There was another story similar to this. It is truly amazing. Matthew West wrote a song about this story called “Forgiveness” Check it out, it will bless you so much!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wz3tkHv5sbg

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Annie B April 17, 2013 - 12:07 pm

I was just babysitting some kids (aged 1 & 3) and they spent a solid 5 minutes filling up a teacup with “apple juice” from the play kitchen and bringing me something to drink and then getting me refill after refill. I thought it was so sweet that they wanted to do something nice for me during their playtime 🙂

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Bailey April 17, 2013 - 12:13 pm

My 5th graders get to go outside for recess today, after three days of inside days. That’s good for me!! 🙂
I’ve been wanting to read this book.

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Mike Anderson April 17, 2013 - 12:17 pm

I am lucky enough to work with 23 adorable little children who are ready to take on the good and bad of life. They are so caring and kind to each other. I am one lucky person!

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Wendy April 17, 2013 - 12:23 pm

This sounds like a great book to read right now.

I’m making your Taco soup for my family for dinner tonight. Keeping my fingers crossed that at least one of my children likes it!

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Jackie C April 17, 2013 - 12:23 pm

I just want to tell you about the staff at a local hospital – their floor is called Senior Care and they deal with alzheimer’s and dementia patients on a daily basis. They treat their patients with respect and dignity. My mother has been a frequent patient there and as difficult as this disease is making her personality – she is loved by the staff. I couldn’t ask for better “helpers” in this journey we are currently taking. My thoughts and prayers also go out to the people affected by the bombing in Boston and I thank God that there were medical staff available at the scene helping the many victims.

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Jennie April 17, 2013 - 12:29 pm

The other night a lady at our church told me (and others) how much she appreciates my son. When they first came to our church, their older son was real shy. They could not get him to go to youth group. My son would simply invite him to the group, and then walked away. He didn’t give the boy a chance to come back with an excuse. After awhile, the boy said, “Yes”. He was very active in the youth until he left to go to college. I was so proud of our boy.

We had recently moved to the area, and had not been in this church very long when this happned.

Jennie

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Jennifer April 17, 2013 - 12:38 pm

I have been the recipient of so much service. I was widowed when my baby was only 10 weeks old. Friends, family, and complete strangers wrapped their arms around me, comforted me, brought in meals, took care of my lawn, and the list goes on and on. I hope to someday be able to pay it forward to others when they are in need. This book looks wonderful!

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Krista Robinson April 17, 2013 - 12:42 pm

My best friends came in and kept my home cleaned and ready for showing (we were trying to sell) and they kept my kids clean and fed when I was laid up in bed for 2 weeks with back problems. They saved me!

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Kathy Edmunds April 17, 2013 - 3:47 pm

After 23 years for some parts of our home, and 43 years for other parts of our home, we are finally getting a remodel done. New tile, new carpet, whole new kitchen and bathroom, new lighting, and new paint. My good thing to share is all about the wonderful people who are helping in this major project. We have many friends, church friends, and friends-of-friends helping make this transformation possible. We couldn’t do a thing without the wonderful gift of truly good, talented friends and others who are making our home beautiful. A big thank you to “GOOD” people who are truly helpers in this world!

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Andraya Chapman April 17, 2013 - 3:47 pm

I have been having knee problems, and am having surgery next week. After I come home from 10 hours at work, I am wiped out. Last night, my 13 year old son, who is taking a cooking class at school, came home after an early morning of jazz band, then school, and made meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and corn for our supper. That is one of the nicest things done for me in a long while…

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Roni April 17, 2013 - 3:53 pm

God is good all the time. All the time God is good.

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Jill April 17, 2013 - 4:44 pm

We brought home our new baby girl this week. When my older son was looking at her, he said, “It almost makes me do happy tears!” The love in my home saves me when I see scary things happen in the world.

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brenda s 'okie in colorado' April 17, 2013 - 4:53 pm

I love surprising people by paying it forward. It makes that person as well as yourself feel so good. I especially love doing good things for our military. I love that #51 Elizabeth wrote she and her husband helped the man in the hospital by paying his utility bill. I’m sure that helped to have less stress.

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Buffie April 17, 2013 - 5:15 pm

When my husband passed away suddenly, many people from our church pitched in with meals, babysitting kids, etc. perhaps what was most touching was a woman I didn’t even know came and did my laundry every week. It was hard to relinquish my laundry to a stranger, but her act of kindness remains with me to this day.

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CottageGirl April 17, 2013 - 5:27 pm

I teach first grade.

As in all classrooms, some children are excellent students.
Some are not.

One day, not too long ago, (After some lengthy, but gentle guidance by me) one of my struggling students gave a rare correct answer.

Without hesitation, the rest of the class burst out into a most genuine and heart-felt applause and congratulations. At first I could see that the student was a bit embarrassed by all the hoopla, but gradually I could see a shy little smile emerge.

Today, there is hardly a day that goes by that someone in our class doesn’t give an encouraging word or a helping hand to that student. The student now participates more in class discussions and as an added bonus, the student’s grades are slowly improving!

I am so proud of these caring young girls and boys and am so very honored to be their teacher.

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Pack of Morgans April 17, 2013 - 6:39 pm

I grew up with my father telling me that if you’re having a bad day then you haven’t served anyone. It can be the smallest act of service – taking out the neighbors garbage can, when they forgot about garbage day… shoveling someone’s driveway, waving at the new person on the street, saying thank you, paying for the person behind you at the drive thru, writing a quick note to someone… I know that my day is a lot better when I have done my best to serve another… I tell my kids every morning to try to do some good in the world & when they are able to do something – they are so excited about how good they feel.

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Sharon Smith April 17, 2013 - 8:33 pm

My son in law is in the Air Force, and he has been in Korea since September, and he will get home the end of August, but my daughter has 3 cute kids that she has been doing everything for, and it has been my pleasure and blessing that she decided to live near us for the year and our family has been able to help and support her with her very important yet sometimes difficult job.

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Jamie April 17, 2013 - 9:45 pm

‘Despite everything, I believe that people are really good at heart.’ – Anne Frank

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Susanne April 17, 2013 - 9:45 pm

When I watched the video of the Boston Marathon and saw so many men and women running to help those injured , not worrying about their own safety, my heart was so touched. This was a moving example to me of the wonderful, good, selfless individuals that live in America and make it a great place to be.

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Ally April 17, 2013 - 11:34 pm

My sweet 9 year old son brought me breakfast in bed. It was such a thoughtful surprise on an ordinary school day morning. He even put a little foil wrapped chocolate from his Easter candy on the side of the plate. Boy, do I feel loved!

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Susan April 18, 2013 - 6:22 am

Our neighborhood put together a neighborhood garden three years ago. The first year we had 9 families, last year we had 24 and this year we have 32 families involved. We all work together (not their own individual plots) and the closeness that we feel brings more joy than the bounteous harvest we have picked. I strongly encourage every neighborhood to do this and watch the closeness increase between neighbors!

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Nancy April 18, 2013 - 8:34 am

My husband’s family has let us stay at their house for the past week while the floors in our house have been refinished (hard wood varnish stinks like crazy). They have three children living at home, so adding us to their household has made things a little crazy for them, but they haven’t complained and even told us that they enjoy having us there. They are wonderfully giving and caring people, and we love them very much.

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Nancy April 18, 2013 - 8:35 am

Sorry for the second post (don’t count this one), but I meant to say that my husband’s brother’s family. It’s a mouthful that I missed including. 🙂

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Janet April 18, 2013 - 10:44 am

I heard a story on the radio the day of Boston. The end of it was, “Just remember there are more of us – the good people.”

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Ranee April 18, 2013 - 11:55 am

My daughter Chloe is 15 and is very beautiful inside and out. She is very fortunate to have many friends in her life. She told me that during her lunch at school she will set with a girl that is not so fortunate as herself. She has always taken this girl under her wing all thru her school years and included her in after school activities. This just makes me very proud of my daughter!

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Val April 18, 2013 - 1:26 pm

I had a pacemaker put in last year and couldn’t pick up my 1 year old or 4 year old for 6 weeks. All of my neighbors were so great. They helped me with babysitting and brought me meals. There is a lot of good in this world!

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kathy steadman April 18, 2013 - 1:55 pm

My daughter gave me a big hug and said “I love you” out of the blue. Little moments like that keep you going. 🙂

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Laura Cardon April 18, 2013 - 2:40 pm

The other night we were attending my son’s first baseball game. To watch we had to pay three bucks to get in. As we made our way to pay, one mother with a baby and a son playing tee ball didn’t realize she would have to pay to watch her son and obviously didn’t have any money with her. As she was calling her husband I simply went over and gave her three bucks and walked away. Hopefully it helped in changing her mood because she was not happy about having to pay/or having any money with her to get into the game.

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Melanie April 18, 2013 - 3:42 pm

Text i sent my daughter recently: Mom problem 257: Sitting at my desk crying due to listening to a taylor swift song. ha ha. It was the song ‘best day.’ It is about just the simplest things of daily life that we enjoy. The Boston tradgedy has even made them that much sweeter.

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Kris April 18, 2013 - 6:38 pm

As I watched the videos and looked at the photos of the bombing at the marathon, my heart ached for all of those people and their families. One thing I couldn’t help but notice was the number of people that immediately stopped to help those in need. I am sure they had no idea if anything else was going to happen. How wonderful it was to see the comfort and care given by so many and see that there is still so much good in the world!

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Pico De Gallo (Fresh Mexican Salsa) April 19, 2013 - 8:26 am

[…] you, thank you to all those who left such dear comments on Wednesdays Giveaway post. I have absolutely loved reading all of the good things you are doing and witnessing. Thanks […]

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Laurie Reyes April 19, 2013 - 11:42 am

I agree with the post from Roni…. God is good!

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding
Proverbs 3 : 5

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Heidi April 19, 2013 - 12:10 pm

My son got a great grade on a test that he really studied hard for. On Sunday I get to honor my son’s Primary teacher at church with the “greatest teacher award”!

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Jen April 19, 2013 - 8:32 pm

My son’s squeal of delight when his sister is home from school and he realizes it is Friday and she will be home all weekend! I love seeing how kind and great she is with her brother!

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Laura April 19, 2013 - 9:16 pm

Getting a great big hug (unexpectedly) from my 5 year daughter and having her tell me that I am the bestest mommy ever!! Made my day!!!

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Ellen Garrett April 19, 2013 - 9:51 pm

My mother moved in with our family the end of December. It was a forced move in because she was diagnosed with Acute Myleod Leukemia and need help with her care. She is responding well to her treatment but she will continue to need our help with her care. Her home in Idaho has been vacate for the last 4 months with most of her belongs still there. My sweet husband took 3 days off work, traveled to Idaho, packed up a good part of her things (with a lot of help from her good friend and neighbor and my mom’s nephews) and currently is driving all of these things here to help her adjust and feel at home with us.

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Jessica Harwood April 20, 2013 - 11:16 am

I went to visit a dear old lady friend of mine with my toddler and baby. She has been having a lot of health struggles and I talked to my daughter about her being sick and having owies. She has been praying for her and telling everyone about her sweet “Grandma Nina”. It’s so sweet to watch.

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Teena C April 20, 2013 - 12:01 pm

When my heart is heavy and my burdens seem more than I can bear, my children make everything seem better. I marvel at how they can do that just by existing in my life!

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Easy Toffee Pretzel Bark April 22, 2013 - 6:28 am

[…] winners of last weeks giveaway (Let It Go by Chris Williams) are #68 Cottage Girl and #51 Elizabeth. I will contact you shortly to […]

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