The IPC Messenger
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SAVANNAH, GA
INDEPENDENT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
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The IPC Messenger (USPS 261–200) is published weekly by Independent Presbyterian Church,
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A Public Apology from a Mother to her Son
I
am sure all parents of children have experienced moments of regret
and guilt over mistakes made rearing our families. It is one thing to
remember those mistakes, it is another to get hit with it in the sanctuary
of your church!
Dear Pam Wiggins texted me on a Tuesday evening that she had a gift for
me and would find me on Sunday morning. I was not expecting a takeout
bag from Carrabba’s that contained two boxes that looked like they had
been in a war zone.
Those two boxes were care packages from 2014 and 2016 that had been
mailed to my son Conrad while he was a student at Birmingham Southern
College. They contained homemade goodies, handwritten notes, and a lot
of love. Our church is like that. Conrad’s mother is not. I had fussed and
fumed at him for the rest of his college days that he did not write a thank
you note. It had become my mantra on his trips home. “Why can’t you
just do the right thing? Don’t you dare tell me you did not receive the care
packages! Everyone else did!”
His sister Rebecca had stood with him and said the mail at school was
the worst ever and please ask Mrs. Pam to mail it to her apartment. We had
the address changed for his senior year. I was certain I could sit in my pew
and proudly read a well–written and thoughtful thank–you note from my
son in the newsletter. I think there is something written somewhere about
pride going before a fall.
There are some life lessons here. Sometimes you need to believe your
child. Sometimes you do not need to worry about what other people are
thinking because your child did not write a thank–you note. Pringles in a
can probably should not be eaten by mankind, because after two years of
abuse at the hands of the United States Postal Service, they look like the
day they were purchased.
To Pam Wiggins and her small army of women that love on our students,
thank you. That box represents a lot of work on their part. To the United
States Postal Service, you can do better. To Conrad, I humbly ask for
forgiveness. I will do better until my next mistake!
— Amy R. Martin