The Lord called my cousin Marlin Kammann home on July 19, 2020. We had only known one another for ten years. He blessed me and my family with his humor, his soft-spoken compassion, and his tenderness. We exchanged letters and phone calls and texts. I will always treasure time spent visiting him and his family.
I first wrote about Marlin for a guest blog that can be found here: https://www.christinelindsay.org/2013/06/a-nebraska-adoption-discovery-by-loree.html
Rather than write more about Marlin from my perspective, I’d like to share what he wrote to me in December, 2013.
A “Letter” to LoRee
As she awoke that November day, to a slowly, fading gray
She said a prayer, “Please, Lord, make things better.”
And so she went on about her day; that day she got the letter.
She looked it over once, and possibly twice, “A letter to me, oh how nice!”
For it was getting close to that special time of year,
That she often thought of those she loved;
Some long gone, so many still here, those living far, she wished they’d be near.
So then it was she suddenly thought, “Who is this man
“I know him not, probably just another fan.”
She wondered as she read the name and made her way down the lane,
The tree-sheltered lane, curious about the letter
“Who could this be, a name I know not, writing to me?”
She went on inside and sat at the table
And as she read, her hands, they did tremble.
Hard to read words through so many tears,
She was flooded with sorrow, and memories of yesteryear.
As the tears of sorrow fell from her face
More tears of happiness took their place.
Up the stairs she made her way, for some letters and pictures to find
Wondering, “Why, Lord, this day has all this been brought to mind?”
Later on, as she sat and reminisced, holding those memories close to her heart
She spoke softly to her loving husband, Bill, “God surely had a part.”
Bill then knew, as so did she, “It says in the letter, don’t you see?
He is Elgene’s son as he claims to be!”
“Oh, how wonderful, oh, how can that be,
While searching for answers he was led to me.”
For she, too, had been searching for so many years
So many questions, tired of not knowing, wore down from the tears.
Was then that she knew as the warmth filled her heart,
That the letter was sent to help heal a broken part.
And as all the excitement and thrill came about,
She was oh, so very happy she wanted to shout.
She searched for the number he gave in the letter,
Needing to speak with him, the sooner the better.
She left a message that day, her hand they were shaking
Her voice, it was quaking.
Such a long wait, to hear a reply
She needed some rest and let the time fly.
And so he did later, just as she knew
He said, “Hello, LoRee, I’m so happy to know you!”
As they talked for a while that night,
Knowing in their hearts this had to be so right.
It was sometime later, several calls and letters sent
They knew they must get together, just as it was meant.
It was on that special day, they hugged, they talked;
They shed tears; learned of memories of other years.
Oh, so precious it was that day in November
A most wonderful day they shall always remember.
Still at times pieces of sorrow may sneak in,
She reflects on the day she felt better, that day she got the “Letter.”
This is my special gift to you, LoRee, this Christmas. May it warm and comfort you always! Love, Marlin
I first wrote about Marlin for a guest blog that can be found here: https://www.christinelindsay.org/2013/06/a-nebraska-adoption-discovery-by-loree.html
Rather than write more about Marlin from my perspective, I’d like to share what he wrote to me in December, 2013.
A “Letter” to LoRee
As she awoke that November day, to a slowly, fading gray
She said a prayer, “Please, Lord, make things better.”
And so she went on about her day; that day she got the letter.
She looked it over once, and possibly twice, “A letter to me, oh how nice!”
For it was getting close to that special time of year,
That she often thought of those she loved;
Some long gone, so many still here, those living far, she wished they’d be near.
So then it was she suddenly thought, “Who is this man
“I know him not, probably just another fan.”
She wondered as she read the name and made her way down the lane,
The tree-sheltered lane, curious about the letter
“Who could this be, a name I know not, writing to me?”
She went on inside and sat at the table
And as she read, her hands, they did tremble.
Hard to read words through so many tears,
She was flooded with sorrow, and memories of yesteryear.
As the tears of sorrow fell from her face
More tears of happiness took their place.
Up the stairs she made her way, for some letters and pictures to find
Wondering, “Why, Lord, this day has all this been brought to mind?”
Later on, as she sat and reminisced, holding those memories close to her heart
She spoke softly to her loving husband, Bill, “God surely had a part.”
Bill then knew, as so did she, “It says in the letter, don’t you see?
He is Elgene’s son as he claims to be!”
“Oh, how wonderful, oh, how can that be,
While searching for answers he was led to me.”
For she, too, had been searching for so many years
So many questions, tired of not knowing, wore down from the tears.
Was then that she knew as the warmth filled her heart,
That the letter was sent to help heal a broken part.
And as all the excitement and thrill came about,
She was oh, so very happy she wanted to shout.
She searched for the number he gave in the letter,
Needing to speak with him, the sooner the better.
She left a message that day, her hand they were shaking
Her voice, it was quaking.
Such a long wait, to hear a reply
She needed some rest and let the time fly.
And so he did later, just as she knew
He said, “Hello, LoRee, I’m so happy to know you!”
As they talked for a while that night,
Knowing in their hearts this had to be so right.
It was sometime later, several calls and letters sent
They knew they must get together, just as it was meant.
It was on that special day, they hugged, they talked;
They shed tears; learned of memories of other years.
Oh, so precious it was that day in November
A most wonderful day they shall always remember.
Still at times pieces of sorrow may sneak in,
She reflects on the day she felt better, that day she got the “Letter.”
This is my special gift to you, LoRee, this Christmas. May it warm and comfort you always! Love, Marlin
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