Where’s Abigal?

I have your Bible, and I’m wondering who you are and where you live. Mostly I’m wondering if you ever became a believer in Jesus Christ so that I’ll get to meet you in Heaven.

You’re probably thinking this is a very strange letter. You’re right, but let me tell you how it came about.

I love rummage sales. Whenever I see a Bible on a rummage table, I’ll most likely buy it if it is good shape. That happened recently. While at the rummage, I saw a New American Standard Revised Bible. The Bible was in great condition -- no markings, no highlighting, no notes in the margins – a very clean Bible. My heart did a little frown, however, because I saw someone had written something inside on the first page, but I could razor out that page if I wanted to pass it on to a student at Teen Challenge or someone who needed a Bible. I bought it. I don’t remember how much it was, but I left it at our cottage for an extra Bible – just in case someone came along who needed one.

Recently I needed to study for our small-group meeting and picked up that rummage sale Bible to use. While using the Bible, my mind started asking some questions.

Abigal, the writing on the inside of the Bible was a note from your mother. Did she give you the Bible for your birthday, graduation or just because? As you may recall, the note was dated Oct. 31, 2004, and it said: “Abigal. Remember always that I love you and I praise God that you, through His blessings, became my daughter. Walk with the Lord, always. Remember, too, that we are to love one another as God loves us. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish.”

Did your mother give you this Bible in hopes that you would read it and realize the truth in God’s Holy Word, the truth of how to be forgiven of sins and prepared to spend eternity in Heaven with God?

Then I became very sad. Abigal, your Bible is so clean, so unmarked, so unused. The cover is unmarred, and the pages are so crisp and new. What happened? I suppose something could have happened to you – a car accident or illness. But, if you are still alive, did this Bible, given to you by your mother, just sit on the shelf gathering dust? How did it happen that this very personal gift ended up at the rummage sale? Before it became rummage, did you discover that Jesus died for you and He is the way, the truth and the life?

I’m sure your mother surrounded you with her prayers as well. I find myself praying now that God heard and answered her prayers. I pray that you are living in the sweet spot of God’s will for your life, forgiven of your sins and enjoying life abundant that only Jesus can give. I pray that you now have another Bible and your favorite verses are highlighted and pages are worn from use. I know that would warm your mother’s heart. Every time I use your Bible, Abigal, I shall pray for you anew.

I am no longer pleased that your Bible was so clean and unmarked. I wish I had seen dates beside a favorite verse, or an explanation of a word in the margin or just some verses highlighted that blessed your soul. I would have stopped and read those verses to see why they meant so much to you. I hope the next Bible I pick up at a rummage sale is not so clean and unmarked. I will read the verses that spoke to its owner with great anticipation.

I’m looking forward to going to Heaven, and I when I do, I’m hoping that some young woman walks up to me and says, “Hi, I’m Abigal.” Then you can tell me the rest of the story of why your Bible came to rest on a table at a rummage sale.

With love and prayers,

Corinne Scott