In truth, I have had a very blessed life. Oh I know, some people will say, “But you had to grow up as an orphan, how is that a blessed life?” Well, I was blessed to have had my parents for nine years. I was blessed that they loved me and didn’t give me away or abandon me on the street or worse. I was blessed to have a brother who was willing at the young age of 24 to take me and give me a home. I was blessed that I didn’t get into drugs and alcohol as so many young people do as teenagers. I was blessed to have had somewhat of a Christian basis of a belief system when I was a child. Blessed by God, my Father who didn’t throw me away either; Who loved me unconditionally and saved my soul.

I can only ascribe to the notion that God is my Heavenly Father Who was/is watching over me. Otherwise, I would or could have gotten into all kinds of trouble and been dead by the time I was twenty. How or to who else could I give the credit, the glory and honor for my becoming a Christian after such a long time of not being discipled or counseled or led into a life of following Christ? There is no other explanation.

Truly I have been blessed. I have felt the Presence of Almighty God in my darkest hours. In the times of prayer when I have been praying for my family; in times of distress when I could not see anything except despair, I felt the Presence of my Heavenly Father there keeping me sane. His Presence is not always a physical presence; just a knowing that He is there with me and He hears my every prayer. It gives me a sense of security; a feeling of well being; of knowing everything will turn out alright. I only wish I could relay this secure feeling and a knowing frame of mind to others so they could find what I have found. I can’t give it to them or relay it to them. They have to have a transformed life; transformed by the Holy Spirit of God to have that frame of mind.

Thank You dear Lord for Your Presence in my life.

My testimony I’d like to share.

When I was not aware
God was always there watching over me.
All the time when I could not see,
He was there, His hand on me.

I must confess I’m abundantly blessed,
although some would disagree,
God has always been there for me.
Through trials and tears, through heartache and fears,

God, my Father watches over me.
Nine years of my life, my parents sacrificed.
Their sacrifice was great, but it came too late.
They were gone much too fast, their lives too quickly passed.

When they were taken, surely I was shaken.
Again God blessed, my brother was the best.
He gave up his liberty to give me security.
He made a home for me through his generosity.

Through out my life, through pain and strife,
the good times and bad, times of loneliness when I was sad,
times I questioned intensely what would become of me,
no one to turn to; but I’ve learned the truth.

It’s hard to conceive but I’ve come to believe
my Heavenly Father always watches over me.
I could have done what others have done,
become what others have become,

gotten on alcohol, drugs; into prostitution;
a ward of a state run institution;
a life of evil orchestrated by the devil.
I can only repeat, I really believe,

my Heavenly Father watches over me.
In my darkest hours, in times of distress,
I could have turned from God and become depressed.
When I was aware of nothing but despair,

I called on God my Father in prayer.
I’ve felt His Presence and known He was there.
His Presence is not physical; Someone I can see.
There were times I questioned; it was hard to believe.

But when I reflect on those times of despair,
I can only conclude and confess He was there,
only His hand could have rescued me.
No other possibility.

My Father, my Lord is still watching over me.

Nell Berry louis_berry@bellsouth.net

Bio: Nell is a 74 year old newly published author of Growing Up in Missouri and Other Short Stories available from Publish America and amazon.com, it may also be purchased from Barnes and Noble. Nell lives with her husband at Mark Twain Lake in Missouri. They have survived 55 years of marriage. They have four grown children, nine grandchildren and two great granddaughters.