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My
Story
I met my husband Ron as we attended high
school in southern California. I was attracted to him because he
was the track star and had nice muscles and maybe a little bit because
he was my best friend's boyfriend. When they broke up Ron and I
dated for three years.
Eventually we were married right after I graduated and turned 18
years old. (The attraction had moved past the muscles.) We both
attended college and I have precious memories of us in our postage
stamp sized apartment.
Ron earned his teaching credential and got a job that moved us to
the beautiful central coast of California. We had our first daughter
when I was 20.
I continued to go to college and majored in Home Economics. I took
two classes a quarter and it got me out of the house and away from
my baby just enough so that I really appreciated her when I came
home. Eventually I graduated just before our second daughter was
born. I loved being a stay at home mom. In my opinion, It just doesn't
get any better than being a homemaker.
When our oldest was about 4 we started sending her to Sunday school
with a neighbor, partly to give us a chance to be alone on Sunday
mornings. Well after a while, she stopped wanting to go. I thought
that maybe we should go with her, so we did. We went to church that
first Sunday and never stopped going.
I heard a message that rang true to me. I remembered back to my
childhood when I used to go to Good New Club at my best friend's
house. (That's a kids' Bible Study that meets in homes.)
I remembered hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ. I learned from
the Bible that I was a sinner and that my sin had separated me from
the holy God. God sent His son Jesus to earth to live a perfect
and sinless life and to die for my sins on my behalf. By dying on
the cross, Jesus paid the penalty for my sin and provided the way
for me to have an eternal relationship with God.
When I heard this message again as an adult, I received it with
joy and wanted what God was offering me--the gift of abundant eternal
life, starting now.
Soon my husband also recognized God's truth and received Jesus as
his Savior and Lord. Together we began to grow through the study
of the Bible and we sought to focus our home and the training of
our children on God's Word. That happened in 1979. Today we are
still learning and growing in our faith, still resting in the knowledge
that we have eternal life with Christ Jesus in heaven.
I had chosen to go my own way through high school and early adulthood.
Life was pretty good and I felt like I could control my future.
I did not feel a need for God. But it was when I was pregnant with
my first daughter that I began to pray. I prayed to God because
I recognized that I needed his supernatural help. I could not guarantee
a healthy baby in my own strength. But, I could take my fears to
God and somehow I felt better.
Through the Bible, God showed me that he offers me power and wisdom
to do the job of parenting and by faith in Christ I've taken Him
up on those offers. I've lifted up countless prayers for my family
and seen countless beautiful answers. I cannot imagine being a mother
and not having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Cyndie Hamley
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