“I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.” Psalms 57:9-11

Therefore do not  be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God. 2 Timothy 1:8

The word “testimony” has been in my mind off and on all week. I’m not always eager to write about myself and tried to dismiss it, but it wasn’t happening. I shared part of my salvation testimony in a blog post titled “Share Your Story” in 2020. And so, here we are, more of my testimony…how God has worked in my life.

After college Mark and I got married at the church where we first met. Mark already had a job in Greensboro, NC, and I was looking for a teaching position. The only teaching position open at the time was for a BEH (Behaviorally Emotionally Handicapped) self-contained class. I took the position and was there for six years, I loved it! It wasn’t always easy or calm and I prayed for patience and wisdom often! And God delivered, our program became one that often had visitors from other counties who were looking to start their own BEH program. Thank You, Lord!

The class was also a wonderful learning experience for me. I was then promoted to a county-wide itinerate teacher position. My new role was to help schools refer students into special education programs and to mainstream special education students back into regular classrooms. I literally spent most days on the road, observing and counselling students and working with teachers and principals.

One afternoon, I was with a student of mine, a blind high school student who was mainstreaming into some regular classes. We talked about recording the lectures so that he could play or replay them at his own pace and some other issues he was having. At one point he called out my name rather loudly and I asked, “What’s the matter?” He told me I hadn’t spoken in over 10 minutes! I had no idea; it was a bit scary.

After doctor visits and several tests, I was diagnosed with temporal lobe epilepsy! (My seizures were “spacing out” and being unaware of everything around me.) First of all, I thank the Lord for protecting me for all those hours I was on the road; He kept me safe. I started on medication but could not drive for a year. And God continued to work things out. The rest of that year I was able to work at two different schools, on alternating days. One an LD resource room and the other a multi-handicapped class. Mark dropped me at the school in the morning and a teacher at each school graciously volunteered to take me home.

The following school year, a principal I had worked with on a student referral to a special education class offered me a job teaching first grade at her school. I was there for six years and also loved it! God was continuing to work all things for my good! I will “praise Him among the nations!”

After several years on the medication, with no seizures, I asked to get off the meds. Again, I couldn’t drive for a year. Again the graciousness of others helped me through that year. But it was God who healed me, no more seizures, no more meds!

This week, share some or all of your testimony with someone;  how God has worked in your life, answered your prayers, blessed your life, or simply saved your life. God is working all things for our good. “I will sing of You among the peoples!” I would love to hear some of your testimonies.

Blessings and joy as we share our testimonies about our amazing God with others!

All Glory to God!