I was very destructive as a child and young man. My father had to remove me from the will and the family to protect the others from my destructiveness. It was painful, but a great gift of personal accountability, a gift that drove me into faith and personal growth. Jesus put me in the presence of resources and counselors to teach me how to face the truth, to overcome failings, especially self pity, and to learn the disciplines of personal growth.

The rest of the family suffered during the destructive years. My brother, Jim, has probably had the best view of my worst and the change worked through the intervention of Jesus. What he didn’t know was how important he is and was to the process. Dad talked Jim into keeping an open mind toward me when Jim had come to the end of his patience. He chose the open mind despite his hurt.

My relationship with the family grew warm and was healed. They were faster to accept my change than I was. I was accepted with all rights and benefits. I still felt feel like the child with his face pressed against the window, wanting to come inside. What I’d done and what I’d been was a stumbling block. Jim was the one who opened the door.

My parents both died. I realized that I was still holding back because of what I’d been and what I’d done. Jim was the one who pointed out that I had changed and become what my family wanted all along. He took me through the last steps of restoration and helped me finish a major section. of the Lord’s work in my life.

I am a Christian witness because I’ve seen how hard God works to heal and restore through my personal experience. I see how much I fought against change and still resist it, even knowing that the change is right and for the best. I have personally tested and experienced the motives, values, and priorities of God being applied to my life. My brother and I can both see what a difference it has made in me. I can see that I have so much further to go, but have the hope that Jesus won’t give up just because I have so much more to overcome. My experience has trained me in hope, hope I can offer to others, encouragement given to be shared. I truly appreciate all the teachers and examples the Lord has put in my life.