My Testimony
    I was born during the beginning of the Great Depression. My father had always provided sufficiently for our family. But when I was fourteen years old he died. My mother with few,  fewer resources than was adequate had to care for herself and four children younger than myself.
      The year after my father died I attempted to cultivate a portion of the family farm, but prior to the time of harvest, our horse Friday died, and that ended my horse-drawn plowing and farming. Let me add however, mother's garden continued to be productive Thank God.
        During the four years I was in high school frequently I had to walk or thumb-a-ride, in the hope that a log-truck driver would pick me up, to attend the school that was six miles from my home. Let me add, one month after my seventeenth birthday I graduated from high school and a week before my eighteenth birthday I enlisted in the Army where I remained for four years.  
       My father and mother were Christians. They esteemed, adored and honored Jesus, frequently talking about Him and praying in His name. As we gathered around the table, grace was said before we ate our food. I was required, on bending knees, to say my prayers before going to bed. On reflection, that was for me a perfunctory act. I didn't know Jesus. But even such perfunctory act in early life can be a blessing in later life.
     Three years after my father died I accepted Jesus as my Savior and Lord. I came to know Him and more than three score years later I can boldly and proudly say, "I know Jesus." Reflecting on most of my teenage years when I didn't know Jesus,I can say, He knew me. And this brings to my mind this story:
   There's an old story of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and when he died, his body was put on a train and went up and down across America and there was a guy standing by those tracks along with so many Americans, and he was sobbing and a reporter said, "Sir did you know the president?" And the  guy says "No, I didn't know the president but he knew me."
        Indeed, I can say when I didn't know Jesus He knew me. Because he knew me when I didn't know  Him I survived with dignity and hope. Now I  know Him and proudly testify boldly and with gratitude, I know Jesus.   He loved me first, but I loved him second. I love Him now and in every now. I will never forget that when I didn't know Him, He knew me. And that has made all the difference in my life!!!

Copyright 2020 by Uriah J. Fields