Memorial from one of his friends / penpals
Don Hawkins... a man of courage,
strength, and a man of God. I considered him my friend and my confidant.
Though we never spoke face to face and though I never heard his voice...
he was my most trusted companion. It didn't matter to me that she was
awaiting his death sentance when we started talking two years ago. What
mattered to me was that he asked forgiveness from God and was granted that.
He admitted what he did was wrong and he plead for God to forgive him,
and even me, a friend, to understand and forgive him.
Even though Don was behind bars for
murder, his heart was in the right place. He was always willing to offer
a shoulder to lean on or cry on. He "stood" by me in his writings as I placed
my daughter for adoption, experienced the death of a family member, and got
mixed up with the wrong crowd. No matter what I shared with him, he always
shared back his feelings whether they be joy or disappointment. Though I
couldn't hear his voice telling me those things, I have the letters... and
they'll always be with me as a reminder that people CAN change.
Unfortunatley we spilt apart our
friendship back in February due to a family emergency on my part,
and I never got to say goodbye. Though I know his story, the things he's
done and the reasons why... because he's written it to me and shared many
details of his life... I'll always forgive him in my heart because I know
that is what God has done, and what God would want me to do as well. Don
shows so much remorse, I believe he truly regrets his actions. he knows
his death is justice... but sometimes, I prayed so hard that they would
find a reason to let him live and go on about his teaching behind bars.
I pray everyone understands him and forgives him as I and God have both
done.
I know that he's looking down on
me... watching out for me and protecting me as I go on with my life. I'm
honored that he called me and I called him... friend!
Catherine Daniels
Waianae, Hawaii
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This page was
last updated June 18, 2003
Canadian
Coalition Against the Death Penalty
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