My relationship with Christ has been a work in progress since I was a little girl.  My father was a minister, and my mother was a great asset to his congregations.  I knew Christ would be in my heart at the age of three when I sang, “Jesus Loves Me,” in front of the church.  From that moment on, I have served God in all aspects of my life.  I taught Sunday school classes as a teen, went to church camps in the summer as a child and as a counselor, visited the sick and shut-ins, served as organist in my father’s congregations and those I later served as an adult, and witnessed to His love in my music classes as a public school teacher and counselor to at-risk students.

There have been many ups and downs in my life, but I always knew Christ was walking beside me through every experience.  I may not have understood why so many experiences happened; I may have gotten sad, angry, doubtful, or even fearful.  With every drop of rain, a bright sunny day has followed or a beautiful rainbow has come out to raise my spirits.  At the center of everything, positive and negative, was the unconditional love of God.  He takes negative things and makes them blessings.  He takes positive things and makes them the most awesome gifts I have ever received.  I have learned from all things and have become a loving Christian woman.  As my twilight years fast approach, I can rest in the knowledge that He has made a home for me in His eternal kingdom.

If you are seeking a loving center to your soul, start praying, have a quiet morning devotional with God, attend a church and become involved in its community outreach programs, read Bible stories to your children at night, spend time together as a family, and learn how to talk to your neighbors, face-to-face, again.  If you define who you are by modern devices, choose your words wisely and with love.  Allow God and His Son, Jesus Christ, into your heart and follow the Golden Rule.

We need to build bridges to one another, just as God built a bridge to us by sending His only Son to die for us.  All things are possible with God.  Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be granted unto you.

Anna Hartt