Encouragement
I'm a baby boomer, born in 1946. I just turned 62 and am reflecting on the path
My life has taken me. I grew up in what we would consider today, a poor family. My Dad, although he acquired unique skills in the Navy, never made more than $15,000 per year.
Unfortunately, he had been injured in an Industrial Accident in the early 1950's and only received a small settlement. He would spend the rest of his life without the full use of his right hand. Like many of his generation, he had no schooling, dropped out and joined the Navy where he learned to read blueprints and build whatever had been designed.
My Mom, quit school in the 11th grade, worked in the Aircraft Factories of Los
Angles, California and married early, had two daughters and was divorced when they were young.
Me, I'm introverted, never made many friends, was not encouraged to do my best
In school and just "got by" in my early years. At the age of 13, I started my work life with a paper route in the small town I lived in at the time. On Sunday mornings, the papers in my basket weighed more than I did and I frequently lost control of my bicycle and it's contents. When it came time to collect, for my paper route, I let people take advantage of me and not pay as they were suppose to. On the bright side, the paper route got me my "first bicycle," and some jingle in my pockets to spend.
At 15, the grocer, where Mom bought her groceries, gave me the opportunity to
Work at a real job. He taught me work ethic and an opportunity to learn all aspects of the grocery store, from unloading the semi on delivery day, to stocking the shelves, stocking and caring for the produce isle as well as the diary products. Some nights I was allowed to help clean the meat market. I learned how to break down and clean the various pieces of equipment used by the butchers. Saturday night was the night we cleaned and waxed the floors after closing, hard work but fun (by hand in those days).
Through my teen years the Grocery business provided more skills and a paycheck.
I learned to do basic meat cutting (grind hamburger, cut chicken, make sausage,
Use the band saw to cut various cuts of meat) skills that provided an income until I graduated High School and enlisted in the military.
After my discharge from the military, I spent the next 8 years with no
Direction. I did get my BA degree, not that I ever used the fields of study I had pursued.
In the early 80's I accepted Jesus* into my life and although professionally I
Had not settled down, I learned new skills and made use of the skills I had acquired in my life up to that point.
Before I surrendered to Jesus, I made serious mistakes in my life that would **
Haunt me for many years.** Yes, when I surrendered to Jesus and got reborn, my mistakes were forgiven; yet I still faced them in the carnal world.
In 1985, after recovering from a serious Traumatic Head Injury, in which God ***
Chose to leave me here to do his work. I spent the next 17 years employed by the State of Florida.
Since the summer of 1981,*** when I surrendered to Jesus, to recent years, I have been Faithful in the Church serving in all capacities that availed themselves. From supporting individuals within the Singles Ministries, to Sunday school teaching, serving as a Deacon and in much other church related functions.
In 2001, I became ill ** and was approved for Social Security Disability a year
Later. I was forced into early retirement because I was unable to get the support of the medical community to agree on my diagnosis. So now I live on my small pension from the state and my Disability Check.
I have a Vestibular Disorder; my balance system doesn't work correctly. I
Seldom get out of the house and God blessed me with a "helpmate," my darling wife the year before I became ill.
KJV
Mark 9:23 **
Jesus said unto him, if thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
Romans 3:10, 23 – 24 *
3) As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.
23) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God,
24) Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ.
Romans 10:9 –13 ***
9) That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the month confession is made into salvation.
11) For the scripture saith Whosoever beleiveth on him shall not be ashamed.
12) For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greeks; for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
And so, my 62 years has gone through the development of a teenager, who learned work ethic, and the skills that would provide employment and earnings through those formative years.
Served in the military, learning valuable lessons in responsibility and chain of command!
Making mistakes that changed the course of my life, bettering myself with attainment of a college education, earning a BA’s degree.
Finding and surrendering to Christ Jesus, then following the path I was chosen to follow.
And now, in my summerset years, having been blest for the path I’ve taken, I’m at peace with my disability and the new opportunities that I will be challenge with.
“To Christ be the Glory, Great things he hath done.”
PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
Reader Count & Comments
Date
A wonderful testimony. Thank you for sharing.
A beautiful testimony and i pray that you continue to have wonderful years in the Lord and with your wife. GOD BLESS!
The opinions expressed by authors do not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com. This is especially true with articles that
deal with personal healthcare and prophecy. We encourage the reader to make their own decision in consultation with God, His Word, and others as needed.
This article has been read 898 times < Previous | Next >
Read more articles by Tom Show or search for other articles by topic below.
This article has been read 898 times < Previous | Next >
Search for articles on: (e.g. creation; holiness etc.)
Read more by clicking on a link:Free Reprints
Main Site Articles
Most Read Articles
Highly Acclaimed Challenge Articles.
New Release Christian Books for Free for a Simple Review.
NEW - Surprise Me With an Article - Click here for a random URL
God is Not Against You - He Came on an All Out Rescue Mission to Save You
...in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them... 2 Cor 5:19
Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Acts 13:38
LEARN & TRUST JESUS HERE
FaithWriters offers Christian reading material for Christian readers. We offer Christian articles, Christian fiction, Christian non-fiction, Christian Bible studies, Christian poems, Christian articles for sale, free use Christian articles, Christian living articles, New Covenant Christian Bible Studies, Christian magazine articles and new Christian articles. We write for Jesus about God, the Bible, salvation, prayer and the word of God.