Testimonies

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Testimony of a Journey.


In 1990 after my mother died I retook up painting I did at school, which helped me cope with depression. The colours probably gave me a sort of therapy. At the time my faith in God had returned after a spell of being spiritually dead. I was researching into various ideas and came back to Christianity from where I started as a child. My parents were not church goers. But I seem to have been born loving pictures of Jesus and everyone gave me their bibles. I went to Sunday school of my own accord and became a Sunday school teacher in my teens.
On marrying we went to live in the west of England and we had three children. I became agoraphobic and very ill with depression I thought I would be able to work but never did. I was lost spiritually I did not believe in anything.
One day I was in my bedroom where I seemed to spend a lot of my time and said something to Jesus and I felt very warm. From then on I began to recover which took several years. ~Then I found myself a carer of my mother who had moved into a granny flat attached to our house. While I sat with her I started to write poetry which I had never done before. I was never very good at English or anything else at that matter. It helped to write down my feelings as I very rarely spoke to anyone about them.
My mother died in 1990 aged eighty eight years, and the painting helped me with the grief. The painting became very prolific and I ventured out to show them at exhibitions with my husband where I sold one or two.
In 1999 after deliberations of two years I bought my first computer where I had to teach my self as with everything I do I never go to classes or anything.
Except with the help of some family members who have been very supportive throughout. I found I could build websites but could I post them NO. Then I found MSN where I could build a website on line. I felt a nudge by God to do something with Candles. So I made Candlelight’s this was two weeks before September 11. I made this a personal website for myself and lit candles similar as today. It was to be two years before I let anyone else in I was afraid I could not cope with a group.
In the mean time I seem to be directed to Ourchurch.com where I found another place to make a website on line. Here I made a personal family history website with Christian outlook and poetry from other poets. Then I made another art website as well, then a prayer site and all along my faith was growing and growing. This second time around I have understood what it is to have faith, as I have always felt a presence bringing me back from the brink. I know without any question of doubt there is someone guiding me.
My painting has taken a back seat despite my many protests, but then I have over 200 pictures of twelve years work. God seems to have his own path for me to follow. I have hardly painted now for a year or more. My road has now changed direction again and Jesus is the driving force of my life. I must say that in all my life and I still have health problems my husband has always been their and we have been married now for forty four years. Although he stands on the sidelines of faith, our children have grown up to be good people without taking to the problems so many other young people do today. I have been very well blessed with a loving home and family. I am using the talents God has bestowed on me for Him.

Joy Gale 2004

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