Looking Forward to Meeting RJ

By Del Duduit

I’m looking forward to meeting RJ one day.

He sounds like a wonderful young man –- at least 35 years old sounds “young” to me.

In fact, RJ is one of the characters in the book his father Randy Tramp is writing.

It’s called “Beyond Natural”—a fiction book about three young people who find themselves in a haunted house. The main character, Julie, wants to make a bed and breakfast out of the home, but she must first convince the rest of the town it’s not haunted. In order to do that, the trio must live in the home for a while to prove it’s safe. Sounds interesting.

Of course, RJ is one of the three who must live in the house and is portrayed as an honorable, brave and caring young man.

Back to Randy who lives in Yankton, South Dakota.  He is very proud to write about his son RJ. The book describes the kind of man Randy always hoped RJ might have become. Randy is on a mission to eventually see his son one day. He has dreams of hugging RJ because he never had that opportunity. The father and son have never met. The only place they can possibly meet now is in Heaven.

Thirty-five years ago, RJ was aborted. The book tells of how RJ might have turned out if given the chance to live.

Randy’s wife was a senior in high school when she became pregnant with Randy’s child.  They were scared and confused when they took their doctor’s advice to end the pregnancy.

That decision defined their lives forever.

Now Randy can only write about his son and what might have been. It’s a touching way to pay tribute to his child. Still, Randy knows where to eventually find RJ as he is assured his son is safe with the Lord.

“We know we are forgiven,” he told me over dinner at the Florida Christian Writer’s Conference this past week. “But we also know we are going to see RJ one day.” That promise drives Randy every day to do the right thing.

Perhaps RJ is the reason the Tramps have so many children now. The couple has three children of their own and has adopted eight more.

Once the book is published, Randy, who enjoys ministering to Native American youths on reservations, plans to take his pro-life message into the church and discuss the issue described by the secular world as a “choice.”

RJ did not have a choice in this matter. If he did, what do you think he would have chosen?

Do you think RJ would have chosen to spend a few nights in a haunted house like his father wrote about?  Or would he have chosen to be aborted?  Would he have chosen to prove the townspeople wrong about the haunted house, or would he have chosen not to be born?  I’m not sure if any of this is in Randy’s manuscript because I haven’t read it.

But I have read what God said in His Word about abortion.

It’s wrong.

“Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord, and the fruit of the womb is his reward.” Psalm 127:3 KJV

I think I know what Randy and his wife would do today if they could. They would treasure the gift of God. And they have proven that with the way they have lived since that fateful day 35 years ago.

I’m glad I got to spend a few moments with Randy last week. His testimony and his attitude are admirable. He has made the most of his life by giving several children an opportunity to experience life – something RJ can only do on the pages in Randy’s book.

God has plans for the Tramp family, and the Lord is using Randy to tell RJ’s story. It’s one that just might convince a scared young lady in the future to choose life. Because only God knows what can happen to a life when given the chance to live.

“Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5 KJV

I’m planning on meeting RJ in Heaven one day — are you?

Should unborn children be given the right to live? Tell me your thoughts on abortion — just be civil, as I was.