FOR TWELVE YEARS, I HATED TO SMILE TO ANYBODY


My first twelve years were periods of happiness. I grew up in a big family
of twelve children. I am the fifth child and most loved son of my father;
because I look like a twin brother to him. Therefore, he always asked me to
choose our Christmas and New year clothes for the family. This created a
sort of jealousy among some members of my family.

When I was twelve years old, my father died and I drank a poison to commit
suicide but I was rescued by our grandmother (now with the Lord). After
that, I thought to myself, my only father who loves and cares for me is
gone, nobody else will be willing to help me again. I developed a deep
hatred for my family which eventually caused me to separate from them. I
got a good job with everything super to enjoy life, yet, I still hated to
see anybody from my family circle. I always neglected their smile to draw
my attention to them each time they smile to me. I even don’t care about
them each time they come to me.

I do go to Church regularly not understanding what the preacher was
saying. My mentality was totally blocked to what the Bible says in John
3:16, I quote, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten
Son, that whosoever believes in Him, should not perish, but have eternal
life.” (NASV) unquote. I thought, God Is a big fool, Who voluntarily,
without anybody begging Him, sent His only Son to die on the cross for the
sins of the World including my family whom I hate.

After twelve years of separation from my family, a good Uncle of mine,
(now with the Lord), invited me to a three day conference. I felt
reluctantly to go, but at last, I decided to follow him. On the second
day of the conference, the speaker spoke on our love for one another, he
said, and I quote, ”how can we say we love God Whom we do not see, if we
hate our brother, sister, family, etc whom we see” unquote. He also quoted
John 3:16, the same verse I blamed God on twelve years by then as an
illustration of God’s love to us. All the speaker was saying on this
subject were true pictures of myself in my relationship with my family and
God. It struck me so much that I did not know when I went down on my
knees asking God for forgiveness, making a pledge to love my family and
God whole-hearted.

I rose up with new atmosphere in my life. My heart full of joy, and love.
People noticed this through my BIG smile and my relationship with them
which started that very moment. My family could not believe this sudden
change until after sometimes when I really developed a deep relationship
with them, because, they thought, nothing in the World can change me.

Now, I am happy to say that, many members of my family and my close
friends have now experienced the personal relationship with God after my
conversion. Even, I myself can now boldly say that “I have been crucified
with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and
the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God,
Who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me.” (Galatians 2:20) NASV.


God bless you,
Albert