I wrote this shortly after the day a gunman came into Joel's workplace. I had thought I posted it, but I didn't. So here it is.
Dear Sarah and Allison,
Something happened last week. Something that can't possibly be explained to you now but one day I want you to know the whole story. I want you to know what kind of man your daddy is. Dad works hard for us. He goes to work every day to make sure we have a roof over our heads and food on our table. And each day he goes to work he assumes it will be much like any other. But no days could have prepared him for the one he faced last week.
You know how Dad works at the back of the building. He works on brakes and aligns cars so they drive straight. He is usually only one a couple of guys working in the back. On Wednesday, no one was back there with him when a very angry man came walking in the back doors. He was yelling and screaming and saying terrible words. Daddy ran over to the man to see if he could help him or calm him down at least. Dad didn't know that the man had a gun. As Dad approached him to see what was wrong the man pulled out his gun and asked to talk to some one Daddy works with. Dad said he wasn't sure and the man became very angry. He started to get mad and Dad tried to calm him some more. The man pointed the gun at his own feet and wanted to Dad to pick which foot to shoot. Daddy was scared but he stayed calm.
The man put out his hand as if Dad should shake it. As soon as Dad stuck his hand out the man grabbed him and put him up against one of the service trucks and started yelling very loudly and very close to his face. The man even got so mad and so sad that he threatened to kill himself. I know, it was very scary. Daddy didn't know if he would ever see your faces or my face again.
Daddy was calm and remained that way even though the man was so angry and hurt and yelling. The man said something to Dad right then. He said something that changed Dad's life. He asked Dad if he was a Mormon. Daddy didn't know what his answer would do. He knew he couldn't deny his faith but he also knew that if he said yes that this man might just get more angry and maybe do something terrible. But Daddy is a man of faith and strength and he knew that no matter what happened he could never deny his faith. And so he told the man that, yes, he was a Mormon.
Daddy's life was saved then. Some one dad worked with came and interupted the man. Dad was able to sneak away quickly and call the police. As he was on the phone he heard gunshots. The man had shot his gun into the air and was starting to come towards Dad. Daddy dropped the phone and ran for protection. Dad made sure he was with some other people he worked with and they took cover until the police could get there and make sure everyone was safe.
It was a very scary night. It was terrifying for Daddy because he lived through it. It was awful for Mom because I was scared Dad would be hurt or worse. It was even scarier to think you'd never know the amazing man that your father is if something did happen. But through all of this one thing was sure, Daddy was blessed and protected by our Father in Heaven.
Do you remember last month when we all went to the library together? Yes, that was weird, we never go to the library altogether, in fact, if we do Dad doesn't ever check out library books, huh? Well, remember Dad DID come with us and this time he DID check out library books. All the library books he checked out were about how to diffuse an angry person. This man that came into Dad's work, he was angry. And Dad was able to use the things he read in books to protect himself. Heavenly Father knew Daddy would need that knowledge soon, and he put those books in Dad's life to help him.
I don't want to tell you this story so that you will be scared of the world. I want you to know this story so that you will feel the power that comes with prayer and obedience and simply listening. Our Heavenly Father will guide us and protect us. He can't tell anyone what to do and he can't stop some one from making a bad choice, but he can give us the tools we need to survive and be protected. Our world is a scary one. We are so very lucky in these latter days to have the restored gospel and all the blessings it brings. I hope you know how truly strong your father is. Even in the face of death he proclaimed the truthfulness of the gospel through his membership in the church. This angry man knew that Daddy believed. And this angry man who hurt so many people on that night will learn more of the truth now and will maybe make a better decision than he chose in life.
I love you my sweet girls. You have that same strength and faith that your Daddy does. Hold fast to it. Hold onto it as if your life depended on it, because it does. And in the face of adversity, I want you to proclaim your faith without any doubt that your Father in Heaven promises you blessings beyond your comprehension because of it.
Love,
Your Mama
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