MY  DAUGHTER  WAS  ONLY  EIGHT   YEARS  OLD 
WHEN  MY  WIFE  BOUGHT  HER  THE  DOLL.  SHE 
WRAPPED  IT  UP  IN  SHINY  PINK  WRAPPING  PAPER 
AND  PUT  A  BIG  WHITE  BOW  ON  IT. 
 
 

I  REMEMBER  HOW  EXCITED  OUR  LITTLE  SHELLEY  GOT  WHEN
 SHE  OPENED  HER  PRESENT  UP  AND  FIRST  SAW THE  DOLL.
 RIGHT  AWAY  SHE  NAMED  IT  'SUSIE'  AND FROM  THAT  POINT
 ON,  EVERYWHERE  SHELLEY  WENT,  THAT  DOLL  WENT  TOO.
 
 

IT'S  FUNNY  HOW  THINGS  WORK  OUT  SOMETIMES- BUT THEN
 AGAIN,  NOT  FUNNY  AT  ALL.  MORE  LIKE  A  MIRACLE, YOU  COULD
 SAY.  THAT  DOLL  PLAYS  A  BIG  PART  IN  THE STORY  I'M  ABOUT  TO 
TELL.  BUT  ONLY  BECAUSE  OF  MY DAUGHTER- “THE  LITTLE  WITNESS“
- I  LIKE  TO  CALL  HER.  I  GUESS  THERE  ARE  MANY  DIFFERENT  WAYS 
THAT SOMEONE  CAN  BE  A  GOOD  WITNESS  TO  A  LOST PERSON.  IN
 MY  CASE......WELL,  I’LL  JUST  GET  ON  WITH MY  STORY  AND  IT
 WILL  ALL  BE  MADE  CLEAR.
 
 

MY  WIFE  AND  DAUGHTER  WENT  TO  CHURCH  EVERY  SUNDAY
 MORNING  AND  SUNDAY  NIGHT.  THEY  ALSO  WENT  ON  WEDNESDAY 
NIGHTS - AND  THEY WENT  WITHOUT  ME.  IT  WASN'T  THAT  I  WAS
 A  BAD HUSBAND  OR  DAD,  FOR  I   LOVED  MY  WIFE  AND DAUGHTER 
VERY  MUCH.   I  JUST  DIDN'T  SEE  THE  POINT  IN  GOING  TO  CHURCH.
  IT  WASN'T  SOMETHING  THAT  I WAS I NTERESTED  IN  DOING.   I  HAD 
NEVER  BEEN  A "RELIGIOUS"  MAN  BUT  I  HAD  NO  PROBLEM  WITH 
MY  WIFE  AND  DAUGHTER  GOING  TO  CHURCH  IF  THAT'S  WHAT 
MADE  THEM  HAPPY.   I  WAS  NEVER  HOUNDED  OVER THIS  OR  NAGGED 
EITHER,  BY  MY  WIFE.   IN  FACT,  SHE WAS  VERY  SWEET  ABOUT  IT 
AND  ALL  SHE  EVER  SAID  TO ME  EVER  SO  OFTEN  WAS,  "I'LL  BE 
PRAYING  FOR  YOU HONEY."
 
 

OUR  DAUGHTER  TOOK  HER  DOLL  WITH  HER  TO  CHURCH AND 
EVEN  DRESSED  HER  DOLL- “SUSIE”   UP  FOR  THE OCCASION,  AS
 IF  SHE  WERE  A  REAL  LIVE  LITTLE PERSON.   IT  WAS  RATHER  CUTE 
TOO,  THE  WAY  SHE ALWAYS  SAT  HER  DOLL  IN  HER  OLD  HIGH-
CHAIR  AT DINNER  TIME  EVERY  NIGHT.   SHELLEY  WOULD  PLACE
 THE HIGH-CHAIR  RIGHT  NEXT  TO  WHERE  SHE  SAT  AT  THE DINNER
TABLE.
 
 

TO CONTINUE ON WITH MY STORY, THE CHURCH THAT MY WIFE 
AND DAUGHTER ATTENDED HAD PLANNED A BIG REVIVAL.  THIS
REVIVAL WAS TO TAKE PLACE IN THE MIDDLE OF MARCH, AND WOULD
LAST FOR FOUR DAYS. MY WIFE ALWAYS GOT EXCITED AT  "REVIVAL
TIME" AND SO DID OUR LITTLE SHELLEY.   EVEN THOUGH THAT MAY 
SOUND SILLY SINCE SHE WAS ONLY EIGHT YEARS OLD AT THE TIME.
  BUT SHELLEY, AS SHE EXPLAINED IT TO ME ONE NIGHT AFTER SHE
AND HER MOM HAD JUST COME HOME FROM CHURCH, - ”HAD MADE 
FRIENDS WITH JESUS!”  IN ALL HONESTY, I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND ANY
OF IT, BUT I DID GIVE HER A BIG HUG AND TELL HER THAT  'DADDY 
WAS SURE PROUD OF HER.'   I REMEMBER THAT SAME NIGHT WHEN  I 
TUCKED HER INTO BED, SHE LOOKED UP AT ME WITH HER BIG BROWN 
EYES AND SAID, "DADDY, I'M GONNA SAY A BIG PRAYER FOR YOU 
TONIGHT; "I'M GONNA PRAY THAT SOMEDAY YOU'LL FIND JESUS, 
TOO, JUST LIKE ME AND MOMMA DID."  “AND SUSIE’S GONNA PRAY 
FOR YOU, TOO!“  I  DIDN'T KNOW QUITE WHAT TO SAY TO THAT, SO I 
MUMBLED SOMETHING LIKE  'OH THAT'S NICE'  AND QUICKLY SAID 
GOOD-NIGHT AND LEFT THE ROOM.
 

ABOUT ONE WEEK BEFORE THE CHURCH REVIVAL WAS TO START, 
I  WENT ON A WEEKEND HUNTING TRIP WITH TWO OF MY BUDDIES
FROM WORK.  THEY HAD INVITED A FRIEND OF THEIRS TO COME
ALONG, TOO.  I HAD NEVER MET THIS FRIEND,  BUT RIGHT AWAY I 
COULD TELL THAT HE WAS ONE OF THOSE  "RELIGIOUS"  PEOPLE. 
WHEN WE STOPPED OFF AT A DINER TO EAT LUNCH ON THE WAY TO
THE HUNTING CAMP,  I  NOTICED THAT HE BOWED HIS HEAD AND 
SAID A PRAYER BEFORE EATING.   ON THE SECOND NIGHT OF THE 
CAMPING  TRIP, THIS MAN, WHO’S NAME WAS BILL, GOT HIS BIBLE 
AND BEGAN READING IT TO HIMSELF, WHILE WE ALL WERE SITTING 
AROUND THE CAMPFIRE.   MY TWO BUDDIES FROM WORK HAD KNOWN 
HIM A LOT LONGER THAN I HAD, SO I GUESS THAT'S WHY THEY DIDN'T 
SEEM SURPRISED AT THIS.  MAYBE THEY WERE USED TO HEARING HIM 
TALK ABOUT OUR LORD IN FRONT OF PEOPLE.   IT WASN'T THAT I 
WAS UNCOMFORTABLE WITH HIM READING HIS BIBLE IN FRONT OF ME, 
BUT I DID HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE FACT THAT HE WANTED TO TALK
TO ME PERSONALLY, ABOUT THE LORD.   HE STARTED THE CONVER-
SATION THAT NIGHT BY ASKING ME IF I HAD EVER HEARD OF GOD'S
PLAN OF SALVATION.  I ANSWERED HIM IN A PRETTY COLD TONE OF 
VOICE, TOO.  AFTER ALL,  I  REALLY DIDN'T SEE THAT IT WAS ANY OF
HIS BUSINESS (AT LEAST, AT THAT TIME I DIDN'T, BUT LATER I 
WOULD UNDERSTAND AND I AM VERY THANKFUL TO THIS CHRISTIAN
MAN FOR TRYING TO WITNESS TO ME).   MY ANSWER TO HIM WAS 
FLAT OUT "WHY DO YOU ASK ME THAT?"   I FELT A LITTLE GUILTY FOR 
HAVING BEEN SO RUDE TO HIM,  SO I TOLD HIM THAT MY WIFE HAD 
TALKED TO ME ABOUT IT A FEW TIMES,  BUT THAT IT JUST WASN'T 
"MY THING."  I  ALSO TOLD HIM THAT MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER 
WENT TO CHURCH REGULARLY BUT THAT I NEVER WENT,  AND 
WASN'T  PLANNING ON GOING, EITHER.  I EXPLAINED TO HIM THAT 
MY WIFE AND  I  HAD A WONDERFUL MARRIAGE AND RELATIONSHIP
AND THAT SHE SEEMED TO UNDERSTAND HOW I FELT ABOUT THAT 
SUBJECT.   HE LISTENED TO WHAT I HAD TO SAY AND DIDN'T INTERRUPT
ME.  WHEN I WAS FINISHED WITH MY  'DEFENSIVE'  SPEECH,  HE 
ASKED ME IF  I  WOULD MIND IF HE SHARED SOMETHING WITH ME. 
I TOLD HIM TO 'GO AHEAD,  IF HE FELT LIKE HE JUST  "HAD TO".  HE
TOLD ME ALL ABOUT HIS LIFE. (LATER I WOULD REALIZE THAT HE HAD
BEEN GIVING ME HIS TESTIMONY).  HE SHARED WITH ME THE FACT 
THAT HE AND HIS WIFE HAD GOTTEN MARRIED AT A VERY YOUNG 
AGE.  HE SAID THAT FOR YEARS NEITHER ONE OF THEM HAD EVER 
READ THE BIBLE OR EVEN TALKED ABOUT THE LORD.  UNTIL ONE 
DAY, FOR SOME REASON, THEY DECIDED TO VISIT A SMALL COUNTRY 
CHURCH IN THE TOWN WHERE THEY LIVED.  HE TOLD ME THAT DURING 
THE CHURCH SERVICE,  HE AND HIS WIFE HAD BOTH SURRENDERED 
THEIR HEARTS AND LIVES TO JESUS CHRIST AND HAD BECOME 
CHRISTIANS. 
 

HE SAID THAT THEIR LIVES HAD CHANGED AFTER THAT.
 HE EVEN ADDED THAT HE LOVED HIS WIFE SO MUCH MORE AFTER 
HE BECAME A CHRISTIAN AND THAT HE BECAME A BETTER HUSBAND 
AFTER GETTING  "SAVED".  I WAS SITTING THERE BY THE FIRE 
LISTENING TO THIS MAN, WHO I DIDN'T KNOW VERY WELL, GIVE 
ME HIS WHOLE LIFE STORY.  I PRETENDED TO BE COMPLETELY
UNINTERESTED.  BUT ACTUALLY, THO'  I  DIDN'T UNDERSTAND IT 
AT THE TIME,  SOMETHING WAS GOING ON INSIDE OF ME.  MY HEART
HAD A SMALL ACHE INSIDE AND  I  DIDN'T KNOW WHY.  HIS STORY 
BOTHERED ME.  IT HAD SOMEHOW MADE ME FEEL AS  IF I WAS
MISSING SOMETHING.  ALMOST AS IF I HAD A HOLE IN MY HEART 
SOMEWHERE.  HOWEVER,  FOR THE REST OF THE CAMPING TRIP,  HE
SAID NOTHING ELSE TO ME ABOUT HIS  "SAVIOUR" OR ANYTHING
ELSE  'SPIRITUAL.'  I WAS GLAD TOO.  I REALLY DIDN'T WANT TO 
HEAR ANY MORE ABOUT IT.
 
 

WHEN I ARRIVED HOME FROM THE CAMPING TRIP,  I MUST HAVE
SEEMED A BIT IRRITABLE,  BECAUSE MY WIFE ASKED ME IF THERE
WAS ANYTHING WRONG.  I TOLD HER NO, THAT I JUST WASN'T FEELING 
WELL.   MY DAUGHTER SHELLEY WAS PLAYING OUT ON THE BACK 
PORCH WITH HER DOLL SUSIE,  SO I WALKED OUTSIDE TO SAY HELLO
TO HER AND TO LET HER KNOW THAT 'DADDY WAS HOME.'
 
 

SHELLEY AND HER DOLL WERE PLAYING CHURCH.  MY DAUGHTER 
HAD HER BIBLE OUT AND WAS PRETENDING TO BE HER DOLL’S
SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER.  I SAT DOWN ON ONE OF THE PATIO 
CHAIRS AND WATCHED HER PLAY,  AND I LISTENED AS SHE TALKED
TO  'SUSIE'.
 
 

“OK SUSIE, NOW YOU HAVE TO LISTEN AND BE REAL QUIET  'COZ  IT’S
TIME TO START OUR SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.”  “I’LL ASK A QUESTION 
TO THE CLASS AND IF ANYONE KNOWS THE ANSWER, THEN YOU HAVE TO 
RAISE YOUR HAND.”  “OK NOW, HOW MANY OF YOU KIDS KNOWS ABOUT 
JESUS?”   THEN MY DAUGHTER, PRETENDING THAT HER DOLL HAD RAISED 
HER HAND, SAID,  “OH, THAT’S VERY GOOD SUSIE!” “NOW, CAN ANY ONE 
TELL ME WHY JESUS DIED ON THE CROSS?”  “YES, THAT’S RIGHT AGAIN, 
SUSIE, VERY GOOD!”  “NOW CAN ANYONE TELL ME HOW TO GET TO 
HEAVEN?”  “YES, VERY GOOD SUSIE!  THAT’S RIGHT, GOOD GIRL!" 
WITHOUT EVEN REALIZING IT,  I MUST HAVE HAD TEARS IN MY EYES, 
FOR MY DAUGHTER LOOKED UP AT ME AND ASKED, "DADDY, WHAT'S
THE MATTER?"  I COULDN'T ANSWER HER.  I GOT UP AND WENT BACK 
INSIDE.
 
 

THE FOLLOWING WEDNESDAY NIGHT, AS MY WIFE WAS GETTING 
OUR DAUGHTER DRESSED FOR CHURCH,  I WAS SITTING AT THE 
KITCHEN  TABLE EATING A PIECE OF MY WIFE'S WONDERFUL CHOCOLATE 
CAKE.  I HAPPEN TO NOTICE THAT ONE OF HER CHURCH TRACTS WAS 
LYING ON  THE TABLE.  I KNEW THAT SHE ALWAYS CARRIED THESE LITTLE 
GOSPEL SALVATION BOOKLETS AROUND IN HER PURSE WITH HER 
EVERYWHERE  SHE WENT.  I'D SEEN HER SEVERAL TIMES WHEN WE'D 
GO OUT TO A RESTAURANT,  LEAVE ONE OF THOSE "WITNESSING TRACTS" 
LYING ON  THE TABLE, AS WE WERE LEAVING.  BUT I'D NEVER READ ONE 
BEFORE, MYSELF.  I THOUGHT I'D JUST SEE WHAT IT HAD TO SAY, SO I 
PICKED IT UP AND STARTED READING IT.
 
 
 

"JOHN 3:16:   FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS
ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHOULD
NOT PERISH BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE." 
 

WELL, I'D NEVER READ THAT VERSE BEFORE.
 

"JOHN 3:17:   FOR GOD SENT NOT HIS SON INTO THE WORLD TO
CONDEMN THE WORLD, BUT THAT THE WORLD THROUGH HIM 
MIGHT BE SAVED." 
 

WHAT EXACTLY DID "SAVED" MEAN, I WONDERED?  FOR SOME 
REASON, I  COULDN'T PUT THE TRACT DOWN YET.   I WAS CURIOUS 
NOW AS TO WHAT ELSE  IT HAD TO SAY.
 

"ROMANS 5:8:  "BUT GOD COMMENDETH HIS LOVE TOWARD US,  IN 
THAT WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US."  WELL, I 
HAD NEVER THOUGHT OF MYSELF AS A SINNER BEFORE.  I WASN'T A
BAD PERSON,  AFTER ALL. WHY WAS  I  A SINNER?  I CONTINUED TO 
READ........
 

"ROMANS 5:12:  "WHEREFORE, AS BY ONE MAN SIN ENTERED INTO
THE WORLD,  AND DEATH BY SIN; AND SO DEATH PASSED UPON ALL
MEN; FOR THAT ALL HAVE SINNED."
 

"ROMANS 6:23: "FOR THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH; BUT THE GIFT
OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD."
 

I FELT THAT TUG IN MY HEART AGAIN.  I FELT LIKE I WANTED TO CRY,
 AND THE SINFUL PART OF ME WANTED TO PUT THAT TRACT DOWN
RIGHT THEN AND NEVER PICK UP ANOTHER ONE.  BUT I DIDN'T. 
INSTEAD, I KEPT READING.  I COULD HEAR MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER 
TALKING IN THE BEDROOM,  SO I KNEW I STILL HAD SOME TIME LEFT 
BEFORE THEY WALKED IN AND SAW THAT  I  WAS READING THE
GOSPEL TRACT.  THAT'S ALL I NEEDED- TO HAVE MY WIFE AND 
DAUGHTER START PRAYING FOR ME AGAIN.
 

"ROMANS 3:10: "AS IT IS WRITTEN, THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS,
NO NOT ONE."

"ROMANS 3:23: "FOR ALL HAVE SINNED, AND COME SHORT OF THE 
GLORY OF GOD."

"ROMANS 3:24: "BEING JUSTIFIED FREELY BY HIS GRACE THROUGH
THE REDEMPTION THAT IS IN CHRIST JESUS."
 

I REALIZED AT THAT MOMENT, THAT THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD 
DO TO EARN MY WAY INTO HEAVEN.  NO AMOUNT OF WORKS OR GOOD 
DEEDS.   GOD’S HOLY AND DIVINELY INSPIRED WORD WAS TELLING
ME THAT IT MUST BE BY FAITH ALONE.
 

THE NEXT TWO VERSES I READ,  MERELY CONFIRMED AND 
BACKED-UP  WHAT I HAD ALREADY JUST READ.
 

EPHESIANS 2:8  -FOR BY GRACE ARE YE SAVED THROUGH FAITH; 
AND THAT NOT OF YOURSELVES;  IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD:  NOT OF
WORKS,  LEST ANY MAN SHOULD BOAST.
 

LOOKING BACK,  I CAN SAY THAT AT THE TIME, I DIDN’T REALIZE THAT 
THE TUGGING  I  WAS FEELING INSIDE MY HEART,  WAS GOD’S HOLY
SPIRIT DEALING WITH ME-....CONVICTING ME. I BELIEVE AT THE TIME, 
AFTER READING THOSE BIBLE VERSES THAT  I  WAS THINKING ABOUT 
ALL OF THE GOOD THINGS I HAD DONE FOR PEOPLE. I WAS THINKING ABOUT 
WHAT A MORALLY DECENT PERSON I'D ALWAYS BEEN. I WAS THINKING ABOUT 
ALL THE CHARITIES  I HAD CONTRIBUTED TO. I WAS A GOOD AND FAITHFUL 
HUSBAND, - A GOOD DAD. I WASN'T A LAW-BREAKER, OR A THIEF,  OR A 
LIAR. BUT YET, GOD'S WORD SAYS THAT WE'RE ALL BORN SINNERS AND
THAT  THE ONLY WAY TO HIS KINGDOM IS THROUGH HIS SON, JESUS 
CHRIST. NOT JUST BY LIVING A MORALLY GOOD LIFE. NOT BY WORKING
ONE’S WAY INTO HEAVEN. 
 

WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED? 
 

I  KNEW NOW.  GOD HAD MADE HIS WORD PLAIN TO ME.  I  READ THOSE
TWO VERSES AGAIN FROM THE TRACT,  AND THEN  I  WENT INTO THE 
LIVING-ROOM AND PICKED UP MY WIFE'S BIBLE.  I  BEGAN MATCHING 
THE SCRIPTURES FROM THE TRACT TO WHAT WAS WRITTEN IN GOD'S 
WORD.  YES,  IT ALL MATCHED PERFECTLY.  IT WAS ALL TRUE.
 

"EPHESIANS 2: 8 & 9: "FOR BY GRACE OR YE SAVED, THROUGH FAITH;
AND THAT NOT OF YOURSELVES;  IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD. NOT OF
WORKS,  LEST ANY MAN SHOULD BOAST."
 

I GOT UP FROM THE TABLE AND WENT OUTSIDE FOR A WALK.  WHEN
 I  GOT BACK HOME ABOUT A HALF AN HOUR LATER, MY WIFE WAS 
CURLING HER HAIR,  STILL GETTING READY FOR CHURCH.   I  DIDN'T
FEEL LIKE TALKING TO HER JUST THEN,  FOR I HAD NOTHING TO TELL
HER.  NOTHING HAD CHANGED.  NOTHING HAD BEEN RESOLVED WITHIN
MY HEART.  BUT  I  STILL HAD THAT SAD AND LOST KIND OF ACHE IN MY 
HEART.  I STILL HAD THAT FEELING THAT THERE WAS A VOID SOMEWHERE 
INSIDE OF ME- IN MY HEART - IN MY LIFE.
 
 

WHEN MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER ARRIVED HOME FROM CHURCH THAT 
NIGHT,  I  TOOK THEM OUT TO DINNER.  AGAIN,  I NOTICED THAT MY WIFE 
DELIBERATELY LEFT ONE OF HER GOSPEL TRACTS LYING ON THE 
RESTAURANT  TABLE,  AS WE WERE LEAVING.  I WAS USED TO SEEING
HER DO THAT BY NOW. AS WE LEFT THE RESTAURANT,  I  WAS 
WONDERING TO MYSELF WHO WOULD BE READING THAT TRACT LATER
ON?  WOULD THEY FEEL THE SAME WAY THAT I HAD, WHEN I   READ IT? 
GUILTY?  ASHAMED?  CONVICTED? LOST?  I  DIDN'T WANT TO THINK
ABOUT IT ANY MORE.
 

LATER ON AT HOME,  AS I WAS WALKING TOWARDS MY DAUGHTERS 
BEDROOM TO TELL HER GOODNIGHT,  I  HEARD HER TALKING TO HER
DOLL, SUSIE.  I  STOPPED JUST OUTSIDE OF HER BEDROOM DOOR AND 
LISTENED.  IT SOUNDED LIKE SHE WAS PRAYING OUT LOUD.  I PEEKED INSIDE 
HER ROOM AND SAW MY LITTLE SHELLEY SITTING ON HER BED, TALKING 
TO 'SUSIE'.  THIS IS WHAT SHE SAID TO HER DOLL:
 

"OK NOW SUSIE,  IN JUST A MINUTE WE'RE GONNA SAY OUR 
PRAYERS."  "AND REMEMBER, WE HAVE TO PRAY FOR DADDY."  "WE'LL 
ASK JESUS TO HELP HIM SO THAT HE WON'T BE SO SAD ALL THE TIME." 
"AND WE'LL PRAY FOR DADDY, THAT HE'LL LET JESUS COME LIVE INSIDE 
HIS HEART.” "COZ  HE DOESN'T LIKE TO GO TO CHURCH WITH ME AND 
MOMMY AND YOU,  AND HE DOESN'T LIKE TO TALK ABOUT JESUS." 
"COZ HE JUST DOESN'T UNDERSTAND YET,  BUT I BET IF WE KEEP PRAYING 
FOR HIM,  HE'LL MAKE FRIENDS WITH JESUS, TOO!"
 

I HAD TEARS IN MY EYES AS I TUCKED LITTLE SHELLEY INTO BED THAT 
NIGHT.  AGAIN,  SHE NOTICED THIS AND ASKED  ‘WHAT'S THE MATTER, 
DADDY?"  I TOLD HER THAT  I  JUST HAD A BAD COLD AND THAT IT WAS 
NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. (A LIE)  SHE LOOKED UP AT ME AND SAID, "IT'S 
OKAY DADDY, 'COZ YOU'RE GONNA FEEL A LOT BETTER PRETTY SOON." "ME 
AND SUSIE PRAYED FOR YOU AGAIN JUST NOW." "AND
JESUS IS GOING TO HELP YOU.”
 

WHEN I WALKED OUT OF MY DAUGHTER'S ROOM THAT NIGHT, THE
 BURDEN IN MY HEART FELT EVEN HEAVIER.  I  COULD HARDLY LOOK MY 
WIFE IN THE FACE FOR THE REST OF THAT EVENING.  I  HONESTLY
THOUGHT SHE MIGHT BE ABLE TO SEE THE TURMOIL GOING ON INSIDE
OF ME, AND IN MY HEART....OR MAYBE SHE WOULD SEE THE HEAVY 
CONVICTION  I  FELT.  I  KNOW NOW THAT GOD'S HOLY SPIRIT WAS
REALLY DEALING WITH ME.
 

THE NEXT MORNING WAS THE FIRST DAY OF MY VACATION FROM 
WORK.  I  SLEPT LATE AND MY WIFE COOKED ME A BIG BREAKFAST WHEN 
I  WOKE UP.  SHELLEY PULLED HER OLD HIGH-CHAIR UP TO THE TABLE
AGAIN,  SO SHE AND "SUSIE" COULD VISIT WITH ME WHILE  I  ATE. 
THE  "LITTLE WITNESS"  THEN DECIDED SHE NEEDED TO TEACH SUSIE 
A NEW SONG THAT SHE'D JUST LEARNED ALL THE WORDS TO IN HER
SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS AT CHURCH.  I  LISTENED AS SHE SANG THE
SONG OUT LOUD TO HER DOLL.
 
 

"JESUS, JESUS, JESUS, SWEETEST NAME I KNOW, FILLS MY EVERY 
LONGING, KEEPS ME SINGING AS I GO."

“SOON HE’S COMING BACK TO WELCOME ME, FAR BEYOND THE
STARRY SKIES..............
 

SHE SANG FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THEN DECIDED THAT SHE AND
SUSIE WOULD GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY ON HER SWING SET.  MY WIFE
SAID THAT SHE HAD TO RUN TO THE STORE TO PICK UP A FEW THINGS.
 

I  WENT INTO THE LIVING-ROOM AND TURNED ON THE TELEVISION SET.  I 
SAT DOWN IN MY FAVORITE COMFORTABLE CHAIR,  TO FINISH 
READING THE NEWSPAPER.
 

I  HEARD A MAN TALKING ON THE TELEVISION SET.  I  LISTENED; 
HE WAS A PASTOR OF SOME CHURCH  IN TEXAS.  HE WAS TALKING 
ABOUT GOD AND HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON,  JESUS CHRIST.  I  LISTENED 
TO THE WHOLE SERMON UNTIL IT WAS OVER.  THEN HE GAVE THE PLAN OF 
SALVATION TO HIS CONGREGATION.  THE CHOIR WAS SINGING A SONG 
CALLED, "JUST AS I  AM."   I  LISTENED TO THE WORDS OF THE SONG.
 

"JUST AS I AM, WITHOUT ONE PLEA,

"BUT THAT THY BLOOD, WAS SHED FOR ME";

"AND THAT THOU BIDST ME COME TO THEE",

"OH  LAMB OF GOD,  I COME,....I  COME."
 
 

TO FINISH MY STORY AND TESTIMONY,  I  WAS ON MY KNEES RIGHT
THERE IN MY LIVING- ROOM, BY THE SECOND VERSE.  RIGHT THERE-
THAT DAY- IN MY HOME,  I  INVITED  JESUS CHRIST INTO MY HEART.   I 
CONFESSED THAT DAY TO JESUS,  THAT  I  WAS A LOST SINNER AND  I 
ASKED HIS FORGIVENESS FOR ALL OF MY SINS.  I  ASKED CHRIST TO 
SAVE ME AND MAKE ME A NEW PERSON- A  "NEW CREATURE IN 
CHRIST,"  AS GOD'S  HOLY WORD- THE BIBLE  SAYS.  I  DID A FAIR 
SHARE OF CRYING TOO.  BUT I'LL NEVER FORGET HOW WONDERFUL
AND JOYFUL I FELT THAT DAY, HAVING GOTTEN RID OF THAT HEAVY AND 
GUILTY BURDEN.   I  REALLY DID FEEL LIKE "A NEW CREATURE IN 
CHRIST."  WHEN  I TRUSTED IN CHRIST TO SAVE ME,  IT WAS
COMPLETELY BY FAITH. I ACCEPTED GOD'S FREE GIFT OF SALVATION.
 NOT FROM ANY WORKS  THAT I HAD DONE,  BUT  I  WAS SAVED THAT DAY 
BECAUSE WHEN CHRIST DIED ON THAT CROSS AND SHED HIS BLOOD, 
HE MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO BE BORN-AGAIN, BY MY OWN CHOICE.....
BY AN ACT OF FAITH IN HIM.
 
 

WHEN MY WIFE RETURNED FROM THE STORE, SHE FOUND ME SITTING
ON THE SOFA, READING HER BIBLE.   I  LOOKED UP AT HER WHEN  I 
SAW HER ENTER THE ROOM.  SHE HAD A LOOK OF SURPRISE ON HER
FACE AT FINDING ME READING HER BIBLE.   I  KNOW I HAD A BIG SMILE
ON MY FACE,  SO SHE SHE WALKED OVER AND SAT DOWN ON THE SOFA 
NEXT TO ME.
 

"HONEY, I HAVE SOME REAL GOOD NEWS TO TELL YOU,  - I  HAVE 
SURRENDERED MY HEART AND LIFE TO CHRIST."  "I  GOT ON MY
KNEES, RIGHT HERE, AND INVITED JESUS INTO MY HEART."
 

I HAVE NEVER SEEN MY WIFE CRY THE WAY SHE CRIED THAT DAY. 
FOR THAT MATTER, MYSELF EITHER.   I  CANNOT BEGIN TO EXPLAIN HOW 
WONDERFUL IT WAS FOR ME TO HAVE THAT HEAVY BURDEN OF BEING
LOST, OFF OF MY HEART AND OUT OF MY LIFE THAT DAY.  THE JOY  I
 FELT IN MY HEART WAS SO WONDERFUL THAT I  CANNOT DESCRIBE
IT IN WORDS.
 

THE FOLLOWING WEDNESDAY NIGHT, AS  'WE'  WERE GETTING
READY FOR CHURCH,  I  HEARD LITTLE SHELLEY IN HER ROOM, 
TALKING TO HER DOLL SUSIE AGAIN.
 

"SEE,  SUSIE,  I  TOLD YOU." "GOD HEARS HIS CHILDREN’S
 PRAYERS,  AND NOW DADDY'S  HAPPY, TOO." "HE'S  GOT 
JESUS IN HIS  HEART, JUST LIKE WE DO!" "AND TONIGHT, 
I'M  EVEN GONNA LET YOU SIT BY DADDY IN CHURCH." 
"NOW  WHAT  DO  'YA  THINK  ABOUT  THAT !"
 
 

Fictional  Story
Written By:
Tammy Boatman-Young