Dear Friends,
This is my testimony in brief. First, a little about me now. I'm a mother of three children. Happily married. Isn't God wonderful!
What I have learned on looking back on my life. Is that God is always there.
My childhood was pretty normal as far as things go. A caring mother and father. One older sister. At least that part was normal.
I'm a survivor (or shall I say conqueror) of childhood sexual abuse, from the hands of my uncle. For about 8 years he made life hell for me. He told me if my parents ever found out they would hate me. I didn't want that. So I never told them. As I became a teenager the memories of the abuse faded. What was left behind was a very large hole in my heart and in my soul. So I started looking for things to fill the void. First, I tried hanging out with the druggies, not a good idea. I became a contact for them. I didn't like how that felt so I decided to leave. I started college, now 20 or so, I decided things had to change.
From too many years of hanging out with the wrong crowd and knowing far to much, my past started coming back to haunt me. First, verbal warnings, then physical attacks. Who knew what would happen then. At this time I realized my life was out of control. I remembered what my dad had taught me about Jesus and the Bible. I prayed to Jesus to forgive me, and to protect me. He did. As he always does when someone asks. I thought things would be easy from then on they weren't. The attacks continued. I met some people at school, that cared and wondered what was going on. (Christians) After time I told them the whole story. They prayed for my divine protection. Then things started changing. Still, the attacks continued. I was injected with drugs, trying to rekindle my addiction, or maybe trying to kill me, I'm not sure. But the drugs had no longterm effect. The addiction did not return. The intended over doses did not happen. God protected me. The other more physical attacks started not happening at all, one of my new christian friends would show up just in time to scare my attackers away. Again, God protected me.
Over a few years the memories faded again. Again I was looking for compeletion in my life. I met my husband. (a Christian). We married after 5 months. God had told me he was the man I was to marry. Then after the birth of my second child the memories came rushing back. I was very confused and tormented. It took me a few more years to sort it all out. Prayer from my husband, counseling, and Gods gentle hand has brought me her were I am today, speaking with you. I am much stronger, much more forgiving, a much better mother, the list goes on and on, for what God has brought me through. It took many years for me to realize why things happened the way they did. Not only had God protected me. But he also was using me to show these people (Christian and non Christian) how strong He really is.
There is one simple lesson that I need to teach. It is why I live today. This simple, simple message is: "He was there all the time"
Though this is a very much condensed version of my testimony. I hope it will tell you why we must protect and teach our children well. We are the only ones that can teach them that God is and always will be there for them. And, If you have not yet realized how much our Lord Jesus Christ loves you, I also, want you to know "He was there all the time." No matter what your situation, God is here for you. He Loves You!
Yours in Christ,
Angel
If you have a testimony that might help others. Just email it to me. I'll post it on my web page, if you like. Or, I'll just read about what wonderful things our God has done.