Anneken's Letter A True Story Excerpts written January 24, 1536 By Judith Bronte "My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother." ~ Proverbs 1:8 ~ he young Christian mother watched as a crowd of people gathered to witness her execution. A few hours earlier, her own beloved husband had died for the witness of Christ. Now it was to be her turn. Anneken was ready to die, but, one thing was left to be done. "Here is my fifteen month old son," she cried to the crowd, "Who wants him? I'll give all my money to whoever gives him a home!" Anneken searched the crowd for someone bold enough to take the baby of a persecuted Christian. A man stepped forward from the crowd. He had six children of his own, but he could not ignore Anneken's heart wrenching plea. Anneken kissed her son one last time and placed him into the man's arms, along with a bag of money. Soon after, Anneken was drowned for her faith in Jesus Christ. When the man opened the bag of money, he found a letter. It had been written to her son, the same fateful morning she died. Here are excerpts from Anneken's letter: "My son, hear the instruction of your mother... Behold, I go the way of the prophets, apostles and martyrs, and drink the cup of which they all have drank. Take heed, then, my son, the way of the Lord does not have any side roads. This road is found by few and trodden by even less. In truth, there are many that know this is the road to life eternal. But the road is too hard. Because of this, my son, do not regard the multitude of sinners. Don't walk in their ways. Separate yourself from their ways, because they go to hell as sheep go to their slaughter... When you hear of a little flock-- poor, simple, and rejected by the world-- unite yourself with them. Because Christ is where the cross is. Don't separate yourself from that place. Oh, my son, that your life would be conformed to the Gospel! That the God of peace would sanctify your soul and body to His glory! Amen. Oh, Holy Father, sanctify the son of Thy servant. Keep him from evil for Thy name's sake, oh, Lord!" Moved by Anneken's words, the man saved this letter for her son. Now, we too, can hear this voice from the past, exhorting us to follow Christ, no matter the consequences. On the glorious day we enter heaven, may we all be worthy to shake the hands of those who have gone on before us, and to stand before the Son of man. "Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." ~ Luke 21:36 ~ You may republish this without permission, provided it remains free, accredited and unaltered. Copyright © 2008 Sarah Fall (aka Judith Bronte).