A Good Start, Wrong Turns Leave me Lost, Now Found--by the Savior

My mother (who converted from Catholicism to Christianity) took me to Grace Bible Church's Sunday School when I was growing up. My Sunday School teacher was so sweet that I always looked forward to going. I also enjoyed reading the set of blue Bible Stories at home that my mom bought me. I asked Jesus into my heart when I was 7 years old, believing that He was the ONLY way into Heaven. My mom gave me a KJV Bible that Christmas, and I taped a picture of Jesus knocking at the door of my heart on the inside. He is STILL the only Way, the Truth and the Life.

My mother, sister and I attended a very legalistic church, and when I was 14 years old, two crises in the church sent me running. First, another teen in my Sunday School class was tragically diagnosed with inoperable stomach cancer and died shortly thereafter, with an open casket at the funeral service. Secondly, the pastor admitted to the congregation that he had committed adultery and was stepping down. Watching the responses to both of these crises by "Christians" was hypocrisy at best. I ran, not toward God, but as far away from Him as I could get. In college, I concentrated on academic achievement, while celebrating my newfound independence with sex, drugs and rock and roll. I made mistakes, and continued on my career path, with Pride and Competence as my "gods." It wasn't until I had married (a non-Christian, non-practicing Catholic), separated and almost divorced and later, was pregnant with our first child that I realized I needed to run, back to Him. He is the only One who could love me, forgive me and give me the grace I need to be a better parent than my own parents. He had never left me. He was still there, waiting for me to come back to him.

Every day that I start with prayer, reading His word and focusing on Him, I am confident that no matter what happens to me or around me, I am His and He is mine for eternity. He gives me purpose and contentment daily.