Sheila
I am the eldest of five children, christened as a baby and apart from family weddings; funerals and christenings never attended church on a regular basis. My parents were not church goers so as a child I was never encouraged to go either. I had the normal R.E. lessons at school which I enjoyed and did well at, and never questioned if there was a God or not. I just accepted that there was.
I have been married for 39 years and have a daughter and grandchildren. The last 15 years or so have not been easy for us as a family. Both my husband and I have suffered with our fair share of illness and then our daughter’s marriage failed and she returned home. During this time I was diagnosed with breast cancer, the bottom of my world fell out. I went through periods of depression and anger and would cry out, “Why Me!” but no one answered. However, after 10 years I had the ‘all clear’.
My husband’s health had deteriorated to the point that he was medically retired from work. In 1999 my father suddenly died, I was with him and it is a time I shall never forget. It was then that I began to search for something more, although I didn’t know what. After the funeral I went to a Spiritualist Church and to Psychic Fairs looking for answers. I wanted to know where he was. I didn’t find any answers and soon realised that this was useless. I received more bad news when Doctors found a mass in my stomach, I remember saying, “please God not cancer.” My depressions and our health problems put a strain on our marriage and we separated for a while, but three months later we decided that we should be together no matter what. The future looked bleak!
I now realised I needed something in my life; I had already tried the spiritualist road and didn’t want to go there again. It was then that I met a Christian lady I had worked with for many years. She realised how low I was and saw that I was searching for something. She suggested I go to the ladies meeting at the church she attended so I went along and also went to the Sunday services for a few weeks. I began to feel a peace that I had not felt for a long time and began to look forward to Church and to the times I would spend at my friend’s home having long talks about what the Bible had to say and I began to want more. I came to realise that I did indeed believe in Jesus and he alone could forgive my sins.
A further visit to the Hospital revealed that I had further problems and once again I was upset and angry. I went home and couldn’t stop crying. My husband suddenly said out of the blue, “Why don’t you read the Bible.” I can’t remember what verses I read but I do remember feeling much better afterwards. I went to bed and asked God to help me. Next day I visited my friend and told her all that had gone on, I was still feeling pretty tearful but had begun to feel positive about things. I told her that I had asked for God’s help and she said “Today is your day of salvation.” It was then that we prayed and I asked for God’s forgiveness and accepted Him as part of my life.
A week later my husband was rushed into hospital critically ill and I was told by the Doctor that there was cause for concern. I prayed that God would pull him through and He did. He is still with me today and I believe that the Lord is with us, giving us both the strength to get through whatever comes our way. My life has changed and through God’s grace I am able to cope. I am calmer and more tolerant of others and the one thing I have learnt through this is that no matter what, the Lord is with us to help and to guide us and all we have to do is ask!
