The letter below originally appeared on the website of China Partnership. 316NOW does not have a relationship with China Partnership and we do not know the Christian who wrote this article. However, his faith in God’s promises lives in the hearts of many of our students. The writer of this letter endures prison for activities related to his faith. In this letter, he encourages his parents not to lose heart and to know that, although their son is in jail, his soul is free.

Mom and Dad,

Be strong, be joyful, and live each day well. These days, my heart is filled with surprising peace. What have I lost in the past two years or so? I have temporarily lost time with my family, but I have not lost the love of my family; I have temporarily lost my life of freedom, but I have not lost my freedom of thought; I have temporarily lost Sunday worship, but I have not lost my faith; although I am imprisoned, there is a bigger prison outside these walls.

I find this saying very true: he who has faith can lose nothing. He can turn hell into heaven; he can sleep peacefully in the midst of the storm; he can sing gratefully in prison; he can become a dancer even while in chains. And he who has no faith can have nothing. For him, he will turn even heaven into hell.

We are truly free and can lose nothing compared to those who have been enslaved all their lives by the fear of death. Mom and Dad, you are losing me—just like Abraham lost Isaac, Jacob lost Joseph and Benjamin, and the father in the parable lost the prodigal son. But just as each of these lost sons were found again, so will you also find me.

If it is more blessed to give than to receive, it can also be said that it is more blessed to lose than to gain. For it is only by losing that we can gain more beauty. I believe that when we meet again, we will be more beautiful and more mature. May you be strong and joyful! 

Your loving son, 

Bo Jiapei (Bo Jiapei is a pseudonym)

Source: China Partnership