Vincent Villarreal

April 6, 2024

My dear friend Vince:

I am sitting here ruminating on our visit day. I am overflowing with gratitude for God putting you in my life. I bonded with you years ago because of an act of kindness on your part. I knew intuitively that you were a kindred spirit.

Out of this union with you came a relationship with Ryan, Lisa, Goya and all of your family even though I do not know all of them. They have become my imaginary extended family because most of my family have passed on. God works in mysterious ways, his wonders to behold.

When we were children, we learned very quickly the value of love. Either because we got it, or we didn’t. You and I got enough to keep our goodness intact, but not enough that we do not feel wounded. But along with our wounds comes our healing, our ministry, our peace of mind, and our intimacy with God.

I hope to be alive when your faith in God becomes your faith in Christ, but that is only the icing on the cake. You are enjoying a relationship with him whether you are full of doubt or not.

In this life we begin with suffering as our Lord suffered on the cross. Then we are saved. Then we pass it on. You and I are both on stage three. We are sharing the gifts of the Spirit bestowed on us.

I am intuitive and see the relationship between the past, present and future. I can see your past and weep for you. I see your present and beam with pride. I can see your future with your students passing on to them what God has bestowed upon you—the gift of self-awareness, teaching, parenthood, and so much compassion for others.

I am writing this so you can have it for posterity. Just so you know, during your dark times, that you are loved. And there will be dark times for you and the world around you. There is no way to make sense of a world of good and toxic. We must just make the best of it. Perhaps God will explain things when we get to heaven. Well, to make a long story short. I love you.

Your friend, Susan Peabody