Billy Fidget's Family Fortunes

by Nick Battle And Eric Delve, Nick Battle, Eric Delve

Genres: General Fiction; Christian Fiction

Synopsis

Billy Fidget writes letters to God. And, somewhat unexpectedly, God writes back. After the traumatic events and dramatic reconciliation of THE BILLY FIDGET LETTERS life has got back to normal, but then Helen gets pregnant with their fourth child - and Tom gets caught selling drugs to schoolfriends. Billy just doesn't understand it. But, as ever, God has a plan - it's just not necessarily going to be an easy road. This follow-up to THE BILLY FIDGET LETTERS has just the same fearless honesty as the first book, so that through the ups and downs of Billy's spiritual career we can connect with the issues that face him and his family - and maybe learn something about ourselves along the way.

Release date: February 14, 2013

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Print pages: 256

Sample

Airmail received by Billy February 26th

SUNDAY NIGHT

Billy, my dear son,

 

There is so much I wanted to say. I thought I should put it down in writing, because I think, by the time you arrive, I will be too weak to say very much. So I have written this for you to read after I am gone, and I will post it to you, so you are reminded that even when you think that’s it, that’s the end – it won’t be. I know in novels, this kind of letter usually begins By the time you read this, I’ll be dead . . . Actually, of course, the glorious truth is that by the time you read this, I will be more alive than I’ve ever been. Just think, Billy, I am going to see Jesus face to face. Then he will escort me into the presence of his Father, there to see our heavenly Dad, to see his smile full on. Won’t that be amazing?

You know, I prayed that I would not have to suffer pain on this journey. The truth is there has been lots of pain and at times it has felt almost unbearable. Yet I have known the presence of Jesus closer and more real than ever in my life before. People talk about intimacy. But it’s nothing compared to what I have known these last few weeks. Our God is so amazing. There are moments now when the veil between heaven and earth seems almost like a mist, like one of those diaphanous curtains that drift in the slightest breeze.

So, although I know you will weep for me because we will not see each other face to face in this world again, I ask you also to rejoice for what I will be seeing even when you read this. Already there are moments when I sense heaven drawing near and the joy is almost close enough to touch. I’m going to rest now. I will carry on tomorrow.

TUESDAY MORNING

I couldn’t work on this yesterday. I was too weak. But I have to tell you this, last night in my dreams I saw it, Billy, I saw it – heaven, more beautiful than anything I’ve ever seen or dreamed of. Just amazing. I know we live in the kind of world where people will tell you ‘it’s just the influence of the drugs’ or ‘it’s the compensating mechanism of his brain as it begins to shut down’. It’s all nonsense! They can prattle away as much as they like, but I’ve seen it and I know where I’m going. So Billy, never give up hope. You will face difficult times. Before we meet again, you will go through heartbreak. But as he’s been with me, Jesus will walk beside you and he will bring you through. He’s like that.

LATER THAT DAY

I have to tell you this.

When I look back I am amazed at what God has done. The days when I hated you and wished you dead are like a distant memory of an old nightmare. I can scarcely believe that was me or that I felt that way. Somehow God has taken what you did to Sara, redeemed it and covered it with glory. What an extraordinary story I have lived through! Incredibly, you have become one of the most precious parts of it. You know I forgave you for what you did to Sara. But there are still days when you listen to the voice of the accuser. So, see this written down Billy. Believe it once and for all, Sara and I forgive you totally for what you did to her. There is no tiny lurking shadow of anything other than joy and love in our hearts. We have forgiven you totally and accepted you unreservedly.

Thor, obviously, is not yet at that point. But he is softening. Now my prayers for him will be made from another place. So I ask you to take up that charge. Pray for Thor until he comes through to full knowledge of Jesus and the Father’s love for him. I ask you to do this because in becoming my son as you have, you have inherited a brother. I know, as I wrote before, that you are faithful. In this, I am certain you will not fail.

I cannot tell you what a joy it has been for me to see my beautiful daughter, Helen, and watch her grow into the radiant beauty that has become hers. As for my new grandchildren (they still feel new to me) – how I love them; Tom with that mischievous twinkle in his eye. I think he’ll make a great minister of God! Jack, the fierce competitor. I look at you and see where he got that from. And oh my beautiful Annabel, is there a love that tears more at the heart of a man than the love he feels for his granddaughter? If there is, I have never come across it. I wanted to be there for the day of her wedding. But I know I’ll never do that now. Maybe the Father himself will let me see! Who knows! And tiny Liberty, what little I’ve seen of her, wriggling in her mother’s arms – Helen is such a great mum, isn’t she? I suspect she is going to give you lots of sleepless nights for all kinds of reasons.

MIDNIGHT

So my son, this is it. These are the last words I will express to you this side of the gates of heaven. Get your priorities right. So much has happened to you recently, I think you’ve put the issue of your destiny on the back burner. But I haven’t forgotten what you told me the heavenly Father said, about the call to ‘the impossible dream’. Don’t drop that. Think about it and pray. God still has something special for you to do. You’ve become to me even more than a son, you’ve been a friend, almost like the young brother I never had. In your weeping don’t suffer too much. I am off to the best place. All that I’ve handed over to you, I do with joy, and huge gratitude to my heavenly Father. I know you will not fail. Your loving earthly dad,

Haakon Friedriksen

 

PS They’ve just told me you’ll be here tomorrow midday. I’ll wait. Dad

APRIL 1st

Billy, my son,

 

Congratulations! And very well done. You came through all kinds of difficult tests to arrive at this moment of triumph. Today has been a pinnacle day for you. Of course I was there. And yes it was truly glorious. As you came close to me, the glory that surrounds me wrapped itself around you two. That’s why everything had that extra shine. The whole day was permeated with radiance – and the fragrance? Same thing! The scent of heaven. Just as I am closer than breathing, heaven is always close, but is hidden from your world. In your love for each other and for me, you and Helen created what an ancient people called ‘A thin place’. The veil between heaven and earth became porous. Treasure this day, because other days will come when life will be much more difficult. Moments like this, mountain peaks of joy and glory, are days to be treasured, days to be held firmly in your memory banks, so that when darker days come you can remind yourself that though it may feel all-surrounding, the darkness is not the only truth. In the end it cannot win.

You mentioned the song ‘One Moment in Time’. I love that song. It represents the longing of human beings, as they cry out to me for what they instinctively know inside them is true. They have a destiny, a dream for which they were made. The yearning for that dream is what makes people human. When it dies, something in their humanity dies as well. By the way, who are you kidding? ‘I REALLY held it together on “Forsaking all others – ’til death us do part.”’ Everybody there, not. . .