January 2,1997
Dear Br. Steve:
Did you enjoy the book that I sent too you? What type of book do you like to read, autobiography, history, stories of the second world war or the civil war, books on politics? I have lots of all of these types of books and would like to share them with you, just as I hope that you share them with your brothers and sisters. I do not send them exclusively too you, but trust that they may also find them enjoyable to read.
I have always enjoyed good books ever since I was your age. In
the early 1950’s, my father sent away for a special record
player that could play at slow speed and a catalog of books that
were recorded on records for the blind or visually handicapped.
I could not see well enough to read by sight. Over the last forty
years, I have read thousands of books in this fashion and, later,
by using a high powered magnifying glass and finally an electronic
low vision aid similar to a television, I read many more books.
When I was about your age, I developed severe headaches from trying
to read with a hand held magnifying glass. An ophthalmologist
told me that I would have to stop reading if I wanted the headaches
to go away. I never mentioned it too my parents, but I ignored
his advise and persisted reading despite the headaches. Finally,
the Lord took pity on me and gave me an easier way to read but
I have never stopped reading, from then until now.
It is good to improve our minds, to learn as much as possible
about everything. To have an inquisitive mind, a joy and delight
in learning, is to posses a valuable asset for a young man, such
as yourself. I am glad I can further your education in this fashion,
but please let me know what type of books you enjoy most. I don’t
have many novels, or westerns, or romance stores, but the books
I have you are welcome to read and enjoy, provided you share with
your brothers and sisters.
God gives that we may share with others. If God were like us,
he would selfishly hoard the sun and rain all to himself and,
maybe if were good, he might let us have some of these life-sustaining
properties on special occasions. If God were like us, he would
keep all the food to himself, wouldn’t let us have any books,
keep the piano to himself and forbid anyone to play it, wouldn’t
let the flowers grow and smell so nice, wouldn’t let us walk,
or talk, or laugh, or sing, or even live, if he were like us,
that is.
But, thank God, he isn’t like us. It is his nature to give
and give and give and give and give and then give some more. He
delights in giving everything he has to us and asks only that
we give him our sins. What a great bargain. He gives you life,
health, a place to live, a school to attend, clothes, eye sight,
hearing, a voice, a mind to study with, feet to walk, hands to
do things with, he keeps your heart beating, your lungs breathing,
your stomach digesting, your pineal gland doing whatever it is
supposed to do, and on top of all these things, he gave you a
mother, a father, two brothers, and the most wondrous gift of
all, three sisters to teach you patience and love. Are you learning?
God gives boys a mother and sister because he knows we need to
practice kindness and generosity and what better way to learn
then in our own homes. He also gave you a brother, a special gift
to boys, one that he never gave me.
You are a very blessed young man, Steve, that you don’t have
any physical deformities, or like Carl’s Betsy, any mental
deformities. But for the grace of God, you could be like Betsy.
That wouldn’t be pleasant. God loves everyone but he blesses
even more those boys or girls, men or women, who are less fortunate.
Your brothers and sisters look up too you as their older brother.
This is a big responsibility for they will model their behavior
after yours. I know that you are up to the job and that you will
teach them well for you have been taught well by your mother.
An older brother is very important ,be the best older brother
you can be, for God will help you every day, if you ask him.
May God bless you with a good intellect, a quick wit, and a desire
to do good. Your brother in Christ.
Allen A. Benson