I was only eight years old when my father died, leaving us with no home. My mother had to go out to work, and I was sent to live with her sister.
My aunt’s home was very different from what ours had been. Her friends lived just for this world, and I soon began to follow in their footsteps even though I had been taught by my Christian parents to “say my prayers” night and morning. Prayer had only been a duty to me, and I had not yet known anything of the saving grace of God.
Deep in my heart I longed for the old home where Christ was honored; I saw Christian people happy in the Lord, while I could not find true happiness however hard I tried.
My mother was worried about me, and she grieved because I seemed indifferent about the welfare of my soul. I know she offered up many prayers to God for me. I thank God for them, and that He has answered her prayers.
It happened this way: my best friend was a girl of about my own age. She was a real Christian, and often spoke to me about the Lord and explained portions from the Bible.
However, I could not believe how simple a thing salvation really is. I thought I must do much good, and make myself very different, before God would pardon me. I could not see the meaning of the words of the Lord Jesus, when on the cross He said: It is finished. Nor did I understand that He had done all the work His Father gave Him to do and that therefore there was nothing for me to do but to accept with humility and thanksgiving the full salvation of God.
One day, while I was talking to my friend, she asked me if I believed God’s Word.
I answered, “Of course!”
Then she quoted the Lord’s own words: He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life. She pleaded earnestly, stressing the fact that Jesus is God and that I must believe on Him to be saved.
At that moment I realized that I was either saved or lost.
I knew I did believe, and suddenly I saw the truth so plainly that I cried out, “Then I am saved! Through the blood of Jesus my sins are washed away. He did it all - thank God!”
Deep peace filled my heart, the lasting peace of God which passes understanding, and it is still there today. v