Letter to Jonathan, Sarah, Joshua, and Christina from Mrs. McDougall (January 31, 2019)
Tempus fugit! (Latin for time flees) It is remarkable that it is now eight years since you cast your mother out of your church fellowship and your lives!! It is demonic that you have deprived your mother of your love, your children’s love and family celebrations - all birthdays, July 4th picnics, Thanksgiving and Christmas. The depth of that depravity cannot be plumbed. I fear for you...
I am writing you again in hopes that you reconsider the path you are on. While studying the Complete Jewish Study Bible - insights for Jews and Christians, I came upon a Scripture that seemed very relevant as was the note that accompanied it: Ephesians 6:1 “Children what you should do in union with the Lord is obey your parents for this is right. 2. Honor your father and your mother - this is the first commandment that embodies a promise - that it may go well with you and you may live long in the Land.” Note: Honor your father and mother (see Exodus 20:12)
Qiddushin 30b - 31a states that there are three partakers influencing a person: God, one’s mother, and one’s father. When people honor their parents, they also honor God. Respect for one’s parents is foundational to Judaism. Thus Rabbi Sha’ul confirms the fifth commandment as the guarantor of the previous 4 commandments in Exodus 20:2-11 (cf. Meshech Chochmah concerning Leviticus 19:3). Leviticus 19:3: “Every one of you is to REVERE his father and his mother and you are to keep my Shabbats. I am Adonai your God.” It is a Judeo - Christian obligation to honor your father and your mother. It is also no small thing that a few verses down we come upon Ephesians 6:10 - 18 Putting on the Whole Armor of God and fighting spiritual warfare.
Honoring your parents is foundational. Have you been unprotected all these eight years? You had a wonderful carefree childhood on your parents' farm in the Dairy Capital of New York State. I watched you, Jonathan, raise pheasants & hunt in the woods on your property. I was at Civil Air Patrol with Duncan (as he was a member also) when you took your first solo air flight on your birthday. You asked me to write your Congressional reference letter for entrance into the US Air Force Academy.
When you, Sarah and Gretel attended Castile Christian Academy, Pastor Stroud asked me to lecture the upper school about the New York State Constitution, and I took you to Kingston, NY to celebrate the NY State Constitution’s birthday with other Constitutionalists / Christians from around the state. These warm memories remind me of what has been hellishly ripped from your mother, your father, your family, and friends these past eight years.
May God restore what the locusts have eaten. I pray, with so many others, that 2019 is the year you reconcile with your parents. It’s Biblical...
Mrs. McDougall
