While at the store, Farmer told her mother and daughter that she wanted to go peruse a bit in the book section.  When she found the books, there was another shopper, an older woman, looking through the books.  The woman picked up a copy of “The Heart is a Lonely Hunter” by Carson McCullers, when a handwritten note fell out of the book.  Farmer picked it up and read it.  The note was written by an unidentified father to his son, Trent.  The note was brief with some words underlined for emphasis:

"Believe, Trent — Believe.  You are loved and respected! So let’s get going. The ride may be bumpy, but we will get there. When you believe in you as much as I do, you will be there. — Dad."

Farmer told about her reaction: “[I] thought, 'Wow, what an amazing, special note.  It’s about overcoming any obstacle by believing in yourself — and also having someone believe in you.”

Farmer asked the fellow shopper if she could have the book.  The woman agreed and Farmer purchased the book at 50% off for about $2.  Then she began a journey to find the author of the note to his son, Trent.

She went home and posted a picture on a community Facebook page entitled, "Go Gilbert," to see if anyone in the community recognized the note or the handwriting.

Neither the author of the note nor his son has been identified, but the response to the note has been heartwarming.  Farmer’s Facebook post has received over 1,000 likes and many have posted comments extolling the encouraging words from the father to his son.  One responder posted “Everyone needs a Dad like Trent’s!!!”

Farmer has wondered if Trent ever saw the note.  Does he know how much his father believes in him?

The search for the author of the note and his son continues, but the message from a loving father to his son has touched many hearts. *

Dear reader, I have a message for you: you are loved by a Father who wants you to be His child.  The Father is God.  His loving message has been written in a book, the Bible.  In essence, here is God’s message to you:

“I love you and I want you to be My child.  I gave my Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for your sins so that you can be forgiven and placed in My family.  Believe and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31).  Turn from your sin to follow Jesus (Acts 17:30-31).  Confess Him before men (Romans 10:9-10).  Be baptized in the name of Christ so that your sins can be washed away (Acts 2:38).  Then walk in the light of His word, and I will continue to cleanse you from all sin (1 John 1:7-9).  The road will be bumpy, but stay with Me, and I will lead you to an eternal home.”

Farmer reflected on the value of her unexpected find: “I don't think he realized how many lives he touched with that note, even though it wasn't meant for me to share it with everybody.”

Concerning the “note” from the Heavenly Father through His Word, the Author desires for His message to be shared and to be embraced – by you and by all who will read His message and accept, in trusting obedience, the salvation that the Father is offering to all.

-- David A. Sargent