"Love Letter" from Pastor Roberto Candelario

• ENGLISH TRANSLATION AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE...

Quiero felicitar a Millie González y a su equipo de trabajo por tan excelente labor y sacrificio el cual no ha sido en vano. Millie, los escritos en tu Blog FGAL se han convertido en fuentes de agua refrescante para el sediento. Tus experiencias dolorosas han sido el medio que Dios ha usado para extender sus brazos a muchas personas, dándoles esperanza cuando la han perdido.

Este año Dios te inspirará aún más, porque como Esther para tiempos como estos, Él te ha dado el poder para escribir lo que está en el corazón del Padre.

Gracias a tu amado esposo y a tus dos hijos que permiten que tú compartas con nosotros. No te rindas, Dios continuará abriendo puertas.

A Mi Amada Amiga Y Esposa Awilda Candelario

Awilda, tú eres para mí el retrato vivo de la misericordia y gracia de nuestro Señor Jesús. Tus miradas y tus abrazos han sido en la forma que Dios me ha amado. Me considero un hombre bendecido porque en los momentos de mis aflicciones no he tenido que salir a buscar consuelo afuera, sino que el Espíritu Santo te ha usado como mi consuelo y mi fuente de agua en los momentos difíciles. Estoy convencido que cuando el Apóstol Pablo escribió en 1 de Corintios 13 estaba describiendo lo que he podido ver y experimentar contigo en estos 40 años de matrimonio. De hecho, este capítulo describe lo que tú significas para mí.

Mi amada esposa, tú eres una amiga paciente, bondadosa, que no tiene envidia. Nunca te has jactado, ni has sido ruda, egoísta, ni orgullosa, no te enojas fácilmente, ni guardas rencor. Ahora puedo entender mucho más cuando el Apóstol dice que “El Amor Jamás Se Extingue”.

A través de los años hemos madurado y aprendido que aunque el amor es sufrido y la multitud de faltas lo quieran apagar, mujeres virtuosas como tú, se niegan a permitir que esto suceda. Mil gracias por ser una mujer sabía que ha edificado la casa sobre la roca. 

Mi amada, también te admiro por la ternura y delicadeza con la cual le ministras a nuestros tres hijos y a mí, aun cuando no lo merecemos. Te admiro por el cuidado y pasión de amar que siempre demuestras hacia nuestros seis nietos, inclusive, hasta Baby nuestra perrita ha sido bendecida por tu amor y bondad.

Que en los años venideros pueda amarte aun mas y cuidarte en tus momentos de aflicción para cumplir el pacto que hicimos al casarnos “Hasta que la Muerte Nos Separe”.

Bienaventurado, dichoso, feliz y de ser envidiado, aquel que tiene una esposa como tú.

Gracias mi amada Gacela, mi fuente de vida y mi amiga íntima. 

Te amo ayer, hoy y para siempre.

Roberto

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

I congratulate Millie Gonzalez and her team for their excellent work and sacrifice which has not been in vain .

Millie , writting in your Blog FGAL has become a source of cooling water for the thirsty . Your painful experiences have been the means that God has used to extend his arms to many people, giving them the hope they have lost .This year God will inspire you even more , because as Esther, for such a time as this , He has given you the power to write what is in the heart of the Father.Thanks to your beloved husband and your two children that allow you to share with us. Do not give up, God will continue to open doors.

To My Beloved Friend And Wife Awilda Candelario

Awilda , to me you are the reflection of the mercy and grace of our Lord Jesus. Your love and your hugs have been the way God has loved me . I consider myself a blessed man because in moments of my afflictions I have not had to go to seek solace outside, but the Holy Spirit has used you as my solace and my source of water in difficult times . I am convinced that when the Apostle Paul wrote 1 Corinthians 13 he was describing what I have experienced with you in these 40 years of marriage. In fact, this chapter describes what you mean to me.

My dear wife , you are patient , and a kind friend, who does not envy . You've never boasted or have been rude , selfish, or proud , do not get angry easily , nor grudge . Now I can understand a lot more when the Apostle says that "Love never fails ."

Through the years we have matured and learned that love is patient and through the multitude of faults , a virtuous women like you , refuses to allow love to wither. Thank you for being a wise woman who built the house on the rock.

My beloved , I also admire you for the tenderness and delicacy with which you ministers to our three children and me , even when we do not deserve it . I admire you for the loving care and passion that you always show to our six grandchildren , even our dog Baby, is blessed by your love and kindness.  I hope that in the coming years we can love each other even more and take care of one another in difficult times to fulfill the pact we made to get married " Until Death Do Us Part " .

Happy , happy , happy and to be envied , is he who has a wife like you.

Thank you my beloved Gazelle , my source of life and my close friend .

I love you yesterday, today and forever

"Love Letter" from Rev. Oscar Gonzalez

First of all I want to take this moment to congratulate FGAL on its first year of amazing heartfelt writing. I've always known there was an amazing treasure within you, and its such a blessing to see how it has enriched many lives. This is just the beginning of an amazing journey. I mean, in one year a blog that has impacted the world, conference speaker who has blessed so many lives and a book to top it all off. WOW! I am truly proud of you. 

My love, the moment we first met I knew I wanted to be with you. It's been 27 yrs. now and I truly have to say that my love for you continues to increase. I believe its because you have accepted me the way I am. You genuinely love who I am, and that in itself creates a magnet of an incredible love that draws me closer to you day by day. When we first met you were already filled with beauty and tenderness, ready to face the world with me. I can remember that first encounter where I would not stop talking! lol. I was able to express and be myself with you. I had never opened up the way I did to anyone. You carry such a grace that attracts anyone. I admire your compassion for people, and willingness to serve whoever needs help. You are an amazing wife, one who supports me till the end. You are an incredible mother, one who nurtures our boys in what they need and then some. The kids and I always look forward to your cooking. It is a joy watching you as you prepare a meal. You make it an adventure for me and the kids, and we love it. Please don't ever stop! Lol 

Millie, you have developed into a woman of purpose & passion; it has become contagious. Remember that there is no greater fan than me. I will cheer you on to the end; just give me the pon pons lol. Life is very challenging and I have come to understand that two are better than one. You are the perfect help mate that God created for me. In all the years we've known each other, you've made this road a lot more comfortable for the both of us. It's your spontaneity, your humor, fairness, and always ready to create memories that I enjoy. But one of the most important traits that I deeply love about you is that you are true to yourself. Thanks for being you! 

I remember many years ago when we were newlyweds, someone said..."just wait, as time goes by you are going to want to spend less time with your wife". The truth is its been 20 years and I still feel like I can't be apart from you. I truly enjoy experiencing new things with you, riding our bikes, walking around our neighborhood to just talk, our travels throughout the world, ...OK, I enjoy you! My hearts desire is to finish our purpose here on earth and simply grow old with you. When you first met me you saw a man who wanted to reach the world and make a difference. Marrying a minister is not an easy task, but with you it has been the best ride of my life. As "Steve Perry" from the band "Journey" once wrote and sang...oh girl you stand by me, I'm forever yours FAITHFULLY.

"Love Letter" from Rev. Joshua Rodriguez

Happy Anniversary, FGAL!  Thank you for sharing life-changing stories that inspire us to become all that God has called us to be.

A Love Letter to my wife, lover and best friend Paula

When I think about you Paula, I am reminded of the contributions made by the first lady in the history of the world, Mrs. Adam. She was designed to be a helpmate. She was equipped to bring out the best in her companion, Mr. Adam.  Mr. Adam had been a single bachelor for some time. He was extremely gifted. He had named all of the animals and plant life.  He worked hard and would come home to no one but his shadow.  He had no helpmate around to tell him when to eat, when to take a shower, go to bed, clean his room, take out the garbage, pay the bills or when to turn off the television. He had no one to encourage him, no one to lift him up, no one to tell him when to pray.  Day by day, he continued to build his gifts, but was absolutely unable to build his character all by himself.  This is why God said and I paraphrase: “It is not good for this boy to be alone.” When Mrs. Adam stepped into the picture Mr. Adam was able to reach new dimensions and heights. His character was now able to sustain his talent and gifts, all thanks to his helpmate, Mrs. Adam.  God has used you to make me the man that I am today. Your selflessness, sacrifice and persistence have contributed to my growth, maturity and development.

Paula, when I think about you, I am also reminded of the structure, fortitude, resilience and strength that you bring to my life and our home.  Genesis 2:22-23 says: “Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.23 The man said “This is now bone of my bones
 and flesh of my flesh; 
she shall be called ‘woman,’
 for she was taken out of man.” What does “bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh” mean?  It means that marriage is like a building. The bone that comes from the man to edify the woman has powerful properties that allow us to understand God’s design for marriage.  Bone structure is very similar to reinforced concrete that is used to make a building or a bridge. When the building or bridge is first assembled, an initial frame that contains long steel rods is put in place. Cement is then poured around these steel rods. The rods (iron bars) and the cement form a tight union, producing a structure that is strong and resilient enough to withstand some rocking motion while maintaining strength. Without the steel rods (iron bars), the cement would be brittle and fracture with only minor movement. Without the cement, the steel rods would have inadequate support and would bend. The same structure is true of bone. The steel rods that support the building are collagen rods in bone. Paula, the aforementioned which I learned from an article titled “Understanding the Structure of Bones” describes what you bring to our marriage and home: strength, resiliency, elasticity, adequate support, balance, and durability.  

I thank God for the privilege of knowing you for more than 30 years and for the

opportunity to be your husband for the last 23 years.  You were, are and will always be the girl of my dreams. Your smile makes my day complete. I believe that when we both turn 80 we will continue to do and enjoy what we love to do now: fly out for dinner in Paris and return home after 24 hours, go on 48 hour dates in Milan, Italy and the Hard Rock Hotel in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.  Paula, I love you more than words can say. Fred Flintstone had Wilma, Barney Rubble had Betty, Ricky Ricardo had Lucy, Sonny had Cher and I, well, “I got you babe”. I will never let you go and I will never break the promises that I made to you on May 11, 1991 at 10:30am before hundreds of friends and loved ones. Te amo hoy y te amare por siempre!  

"Love Letter" from Rev. Gabriel Salguero

Happy Anniversary, FGAL!  Congratulations on your 1^st Birthday! You are a blessing to so many women, men, and families.  May the gift of your prose and poetry; your insight and humor; and your laughter and tears, flourish in the coming years of FGAL. Thanks for sharing your story and life with us. Floreant Agni! 

FGAL, I also want to convey my deepest gratitude for the honor of sharing publicly what I treasure so deeply privately; namely, the ineffable love I have for my wife, life-partner, co-parent, lover, and best friend, Jeanette. As you know it’s not always easy to put in words what the heart and soul feels so passionately. Admittedly, these words can only scratch the surface of the love I have for Jeanette. But here goes….


Honey, can you believe we’ve known each other for 25 years (married for 12)? We met when we were both in High School. That’s right; we are and remain high school sweethearts. For me, I was instantly captured by your beauty. (Someday you can tell everybody what you first thought of me, Lol!).  For the last quarter of a century we’ve worked, played, cried, and laughed together. It’s been the ride of my life and there’s absolutely nobody else with which I rather have shared the journey. Your soft skin, radiant smile, penetrating eyes and beautiful mind have made every step all the more enjoyable. The naked truth is that you make my life more meaningful.
When I think of you the superlatives are not enough. You are more than I could’ve imagined. A powerful, strong, and confident woman who all the while is gentle, caring, and nurturing. The truth is I still am AMAZED BY YOU! I know you probably have caught me sneaking a glance while you sleep or drink tea in your study. You want to know what I’m thinking? Here goes, “I’m the luckiest man alive to be married to this woman! How was I so fortunate? You’re the greatest, and our two sons and I are blessed to have you.

The soul query remains, in the words of two of your favorite writers; Neruda and Browning; HOW DO I LOVE YOU? Our intimacy (soul, body, mind) nurtures our soul. Neruda bespeaks the mystic unity; the two have become one…  I don’t understand it but I sure know it to be true.

“I love you in this way because I do not know any other way of loving but this, in which there is no I or you, so intimate that your hand upon my chest is my hand, so intimate that when I fall asleep your eyes close.” --Pablo Neruda

 I want to tell you, and I don’t care if the whole world knows it. If I lived a thousand lives I’d want to spend each of them with you. 

Quiero envejecer contigo, y pasar cada momento celebrando el regalo de nuestro amor. TE AMO!

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height

My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight

For the ends of being and ideal grace.

I love thee to the level of every day's

Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light

I love thee freely, as men strive for right.

I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.

I love thee with the passion put to use

In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.

I love thee with a love I seemed to lose

With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,

Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,

I shall but love thee better after death.- Elizabeth Barrett Browning (Sonnet 43)

Here’s to another wonderful 25 years!

 “You know you’re in love when you don’t want to fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams”. Dr. Seuss