The greatest testimony that made me sad

  I was 10 years old when I saw my mom kiss a man that was not my dad. My mom was married to my dad at that time. In fact, my mom and dad remained married even after my mom cheated on my dad. When my mom realized that I had seen her kiss the neighbor, she asked me to keep it a secret between me and her. I can still remember the feeling of pain and confusion that engulfed my heart. I was 12 years old when the phone rang in our little house in Norfolk, Va. My parents just received a call from family in Colorado that my grandmother, my mom's mom,  and uncle, my mom's half-brother, died. The truth of the matter was that my grandmother and uncle were both murdered by my grandfather. I was 16 years old when cancer took my grandmother, my dad's mom. I was 18 when I joined the military to get away from the abusive environment that I called home. My dad was an alcoholic and my mom had her share of issues. I was 20 years old and in the Air Force when my Assistant Chief Controller and my best friend told me that the Base Chaplain, Commander, and the Red Cross were trying to contact me to inform me that my dad has passed away. The last time I saw my dad was when I was stationed in Mississippi for Air Traffic Control school. This is a just glimpse of the testimony that I have shared with youth groups, in churches, at retreats, etc. etc. etc. 

 We all have a testimony to share, but we tend to get it confused in the church. Let me explain what I mean. It was a Wednesday night and I had just finished speaking to the High School youth group. I shared my story about how I felt all hope was lost in my life. I told them a story of a young boy who was beat with belts, sticks, fists, and anything else nearby. I told them a story of a young boy that took his dads gun to the beach and I told them a story of how that young boy cried out to God that night on the beach. That night on the beach I felt the presence of God. I went home, went to sleep, and drove myself to church the very next morning. I walked down the aisle to publicly proclaim that I was a Jesus Freak. After I shared my story I spoke and prayed with a handful of teens. But this one teenage girl got my attention. She had tears in her eyes and her face was red. I began to listen to this young lady tell me about her life. She told me that she grew up in the church from the time she was born. She told me that she had loving parents and that she had been a believer in Christ and a follower of Jesus for as long as she could remember. She had Christian friends and prayed with her family and friends almost daily. She read her bible almost daily. Then she hit me with these words that I will never forget. She was crying, she said, because she "would never have a testimony like mine."Wait...what?!

 You see, this young lady felt as though because she did not have a life of hell, that she could never reach people with her testimony. I spent the good part of an hour with her and her friends nearby. I told them that THEIR LIFE is the true testimony. In this day and age, it is harder to be Christian and to never stray from the Shepard's arms. Unfortunately, the church does a better job of holding those with a tarnished past on a pedestal and celebrating the life of the one who turned from drugs, an abusive relationship, etc. The church does not do nearly a good of a job of commending those that grew up in a loving and Christ centered environment and never strayed. I told this young lady that I WISHED I had HER testimony. 

 I share this not to take anything away from the person who turned their life around. I share this to tell the person who may read this and who may have never strayed that it's all good. You do not need a testimony riddled with abuse, murder, death, and dysfunction to share the good news of Christ's love. Be who God created you to be and don't be anything else. You were created for a purpose. Now go. Be the light. 

In Him, 

Jimmy