It was about time for Christmas and Daddy had been teasing me about a big present under the tree. He said it was an empty box. Turned out that there was
a big doll in the box I had wanted. I was 4yrs old at the time. I had 8 brothers and sisters, grandma,Mama and Daddy. We all lived together in a little 4 room
house. It makes me feel good to remember them days. That was the last Christmas that we all spent together as a family.
Mama and Daddy divorced after that. and Everyone went their own ways. Mama remarried. Daddy remarried years later had three daughters.
Some of us kids stayed with Daddy and some went with Mama. I stayed with my Dad. That was his and mama's decision. But a couple years later Mama came
and kidnapped me and my little sister and three brothers. We went to live with her in California. At 11 years old Mama sent me to live with a sister, I came back
home and she sent me to live with her Mom. Then after that she sent two of my brothers and me to live with Daddy in Colorado again.
That's how my life went. Here and there, ups and downs. Seems there were more downs than there were ups. I tried to commit suicide when I
was 11. It sure didn't seem like there was very much to live for. When Mama was working, I'd usually stay out until after 11:00 PM when she would get home.
I didn't like staying home around my step-dad, for reasons I don't want to mention. People around probably thought I was a rebellious little thing. Mostly I
think I was just very confused and felt like I didn't belong any where.
Sending us kids to live with Daddy didn't help either. Thinking back, from being a mother myself, I just don't understand how Mama could have
made decisions that she did. But life was hard for Mom too. She never did have the love and support of a good man like I have. Had I of been in her shoes, I
may have made a some bad decisions too. I don't hold it against her now. I love her, and my dad. And came to feel sorry for my step-dad. (there's another
testimony in itself). I do believe that he made things right before he died, and I hope my dad did also. Anyway, I called poor Mom probably 2 or 3 times a week,
crying to go home. Well, she sent tickets for us kids to go home but Daddy wouldn't let us. So Mom moved to Colorado. I went back to live with her then.
But things were still on the down side. Nothing had really changed, except I was a little older and a little more with drawn from every one.
But then I met my husband to be. At 13 years old. It was in August of 1967. We were at a Gymkannah meet. From the first sight of him I knew I
loved him. We were married that same year in October, Boy, could I share some stories about that!.
He was raised in church and when his Mom asked us to go, I was ready. I always did love church, everyone seemed so loving and concerned with
one another. Kind of the way it was when Mama and Daddy were still together. I didn't understand what Salvation was, but Jesus came into my heart when
I was 14 and from that time on things started changing. I learned to forgive and to love again. The hurt and hatred in my heart was gone. God really did make
all things new for me. I have 4 sons now who I think are awesome. 11 grandchildren, 3 girls! And daughter in laws too! I have the priviledge of working for my
Lord Jesus and my Father in Heaven. And I will always be thankful for the day that Jesus came into my heart and made all things new.
I am also very thankful for a family of in-laws who believe in the Lord and who took me in as one of their own.
I think the scripture that helped me the most in my time of trouble was ......... Luke 23:34 And Jesus said, "Father forgive them for they know not
what they do........ Most of the time I believe if people only realized how much they were hurting someone else with their words and actions; they would do
things different. Jesus forgiving us isn't hard for Him, and me forgiving others isn't hard for me, because God put that kind of love in our hearts. And if you
are hurt and full of hatred, your first step to a new life starts with forgiveness. And it will not be hard for you either, if you let the Lord hellp you. I hope that
you find it; Because LOVE feels a whole lot better than them other feelings that hurt soo much. Through Jesus Christ we can do all things that we need to do.
See John 3:16 about God's love and also......Matthew 6:15.
