An Easter Blessing

I woke this Easter morning to an email from a woman writing to say that Joe’s story (Auschwitz #34207 - The Joe Rubinstein Story) has changed her life, and that because of it, she is striving to be a better mother to her five children. I forwarded the email to Joe. Joe and I frequently receive such letters from people all over the world, people we will likely never meet, writing to tell us of the impact Joe’s life is having on them. Such letters are a tremendous blessing to us, especially for Joe, who for over 70, never shared his story because he did not believe anything good could come from doing so. For me as a Christian celebrating Easter and the resurrection this day, letters like the one this morning remind me of God’s amazing love and awesome power to bring goodness, beauty and changed lives from the ashes of sorrow and heartbreak. I thank God for that…and I thank God for the life and joy that He has brought to my beloved friend Joe Rubinstein since he walked out of a concentration camp in 1945. Though Joe is Jewish, and I am a Christian, we are forever bonded together in God’s love and grace.