At an age of just four years old. How could you have such an impression as I did? Children see things for exactly what they are, and they don't judge. They are simple and can sense when things aren't right.

Well, I saw something in my mother, my father and soon after my two older sisters. Not including all the Christians we were meeting with at the time. I wanted to be a part of what was going on around me.

I had learned about Jesus in Sunday school and found that I was quite interested. Before we moved to Glencoe, and after a while of observing my family and the love they had towards this One, I decided it was time that I got myself in on it. So I did.

One day just before I was going down for a nap, my mother came into the room to tuck me in, I said to her, "Mommy, how do I get Jesus in here?" (Pointing to my heart) She said, "All you have to do is ask." So by repeating after her, I became a new person, one that was going to lead a different life than the rest of the people in the world, a born-again Christian.

What I didn’t know was the many years of suffering I had yet to encounter, and that they were well worth it, and that each of those hard times would lead to me being a better person, both inside and out.

As I got older I got a bigger impression on things and what Jesus went through all for me. I learned that he was nailed to a cross and suffered a horrible death for me, and that all of the sufferings he went through for me. There were some tough choices that had to be made along the way, about which path I was going to take, why and where it would lead me. Although I have suffered a fair amount, I have grown closer to the Lord than ever and have developed a very sweet relationship with him.

He has not only pulled me through thick and thin, but he has always been there for me and has brought me times of absolute happiness and enjoyment. I wonder today, how could you go through all your life not believing in something so real and so sweet?

I know that if it were not for him, I would not be here today. I would not be the person that I am, which is still very far from perfect. But I know that he is still working on me and he won’t give up on me. I know of a hymn, a very popular one, it is called "Just as I am", it talks about how we can come to God just as we are and it is so true. He takes us in, accepts us for who we are and loves us with all His heart. No matter what we do, think, say and feel. Even what we look like. Black or white, red or yellow.

I hope that you too will make the decision to ask him into your heart and believe me you will never regret it.

By Cassandra Froese,
Lover of Christ
September 18, 1998