Mondays with Mom: Her Testimony

Sharing Bits and Pieces of Our Lives

A number of years ago, when I was a summer camp counselor at a Christian camp, I had the opportunity to serve with a foreign missionary named Hazel Moon. One night after Vespers, she told me that she felt in her heart that God would have more people do exactly what many of us do...share the bits and pieces of our lives. That's what Lauren's blog does. Hopefully, mine will too. And, through the blogs, maybe we will share more and comment more with each other, so that we may all grow and learn from each other.

Recently, Lauren asked me and many others to write their testimony. We should all do that. Below is my testimony:

My mom took her four daughters to Sunday school and church every Sunday day of my life. At our house, you had to be sick or dying to miss church, except for dad, who never went with us. We also went to church on Sunday night, and Wednesday night, and I even joined the choir, and my younger sister played the piano. We used to sing with two of our other friends. Thank God for small country churches where girls with so-so voices were praised and encouraged to serve The Lord. Vacation Bible School every summer, and GA's (a group studying missionaries) through the week.....I am proof that you can go to church for years and NOT become a Christian!

Mom's church growing up

Every year, our church held a revival, not done much today. But, it was known, you would be attending nightly!! Every night for the entire week, regardless of homework! During one such revival time, I remember that our pastor, Mr. Davis and the visiting pastor came to visit our home (which was normal during revival) in the evening, one day in to the revival. I was in my bedroom, and refused to visit with them. I was convicted, and I knew they were going to ask me if I had a personal relationship with Christ. I knew I would have to say no.  My younger sister had already become a Christian,and I observed her walk with God daily. She had such a fire in her heart for the Lord. I didn't have what she had, but I knew that her walk was the one I desired. 

Mom & Her Younger Sister, Janice

Well, I did talk to Pastor Davis and became a Christian that evening as God worked in my heart. I walked forward the next night at revival, when the invitation song, "Softly and  Tenderly, Jesus is calling " was played. My feet were ready, and I waited one verse, and then moved to the front of the church to let others know of my decision.  I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders, to finally accept the eternal gift I had been afraid of. I thought I wasn't perfect enough to accept; I had a lot to learn. I was seventeen years old!!!  I say that because most children accept Jesus , I think, earlier in their young lives. Still don't know what took me so long!

I served with a new fervor after that, teaching children's classes and nighttime bible studies.  I continued to sing in the church choir, even though singing at funerals made me feel so sad, I would almost get physically ill. I knew people needed to be encouraged during that hard time in their lives.

At twenty one years of age, I nearly died in a horrific motorcycle accident; thus rededicating every action in life to God.....but then that's a different testimony...