HER VERY FIRST CHRISTMAS- An Interview With Margaret

Luke 2:11-For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

I was fortunate to have been granted my request to interview Margaret S. For fifty-two years she didn’t believe in God, and shushed those who tried to enlighten her. And at times, in her own words, “physically shoved them” away when they spoke about faith. She and I met through a mutual acquaintance, some mere months ago. It was happenstance (or was it?) that she had accompanied my friend to the local market place I was shopping at. My friend introduced her, and one thing led to another, and right in the middle of this local store, she said, “Do you believe in God?” Of course, my reply was immediate and an emphatic “yes” came from my mouth. Her eyes looked at me, and I felt a pull as if the Spirit was prompting me to continue further.

I explained to her that I had parents who raised me in the LORD and I’ve always be a woman of faith. We continued in the parking lot, and then in my friends car. One thing led to another and she wanted to know more and more. Fast forward, over the months she was on fire to learn about Christ. She was questioning me, calling me, texting me, and emailing me, at every opportunity. After eight months, she wanted to be baptized, and she went to her friends’ church, and was baptized in a joyous bountiful and life changing moment.

The following is an abbreviated story of Margaret’s journey. And how excited she is to be celebrating Christmas as a true believer. I hope you will be inspired and rejoice in another soul that came to Jesus and is saved!  Here now is the interview that took place. Enjoy and God Bless.

CD: Margaret thank you so much for agreeing to this interview. I am so excited to be writing your testimony and journey.

M: No, this is great. It’s good to get the word out, you know what I’m saying? It’s good that maybe someone else will catch on needing to learn about Jesus after hearing about how I’ve changed.

CD: Yes, that is always the outcome we hope for. So, tell us a little bit about yourself Margaret. Your background, your upbringing, your employment. And anything else that you’d like or be willing to share.

M: Yep. Let’s see. So, I’m an old timer now! (Laughter) And up until just a little while ago, I really wasn’t living. Oh—I was living, but not living. You know what I’m saying? I was like really empty inside. I was never really happy. I was raised in Bangor, Maine. I come from a big loud French family. Eight brothers and sisters, and none of us was raised in the word. We didn’t really go to church. My mother was somewhat of a believer, I think. But, not a preaching type, just a quiet homemaker. Anyhow, I was the oldest of the bunch, and got itchy feet to get out of that environment quickly. My Dad was a drinker, and really mean.

CD: That must have been so hard for you. It had to be very tough being a child seeing that and being in that kind of home environment.

M: Yeppers! It was for sure. Anyhow, I dropped out of school at seventeen, and went to New York City. Got a job as a waitress. Met a guy and got myself pregnant. He left town as soon as he heard. You’d think I’d get an abortion right? Because I didn’t have any kind of faith. But something inside of me said it was wrong. So, I had pretty little Deborah. I decided to move back to Maine, to see if I could get some help from family. My mother secretly helped me out. But my dad found out and stopped that from happening. He disowned me. Called me a tramp. Said I got myself knocked up and not married.  Didn’t want to know my kid either.

CD: Oh, I’m so sorry, that must have hurt.

M: Yeah, but it’s okay. Because I decided to finish High School and got myself an equivalency diploma. And went to school to become a medical assistant. And I have been employed at this career since I graduated at twenty-one. I love helping people.

CD: Then that is your calling, if you’re enjoying it and excelling at it, then that’s from God.

M: Oh Yes, Amen! (Laughter, raises her hands and looks up) I’m going to give Him praise where I can, because I look back and know it’s all Him. Now, I know I never would have survived if not for Him. Even when I didn’t know He was there, He WAS! And saving my baby was a huge part of it. It had to be now what I know was the Holy Spirit. He was with me!

CD: Always with us. God is always with us, Amen!

M: Anyhow, I was miserable for a long time, even though I enjoyed helping sick people. Does that make any sense to you?

CD: Absolutely does, of course.

M: I was in and out of relationships with men. I smoked, but never drank. Not after seeing what it did to my old man. He died very young by the way, with Cirrhosis of the liver. So I don’t touch the stuff. But I was never happy, always looking for something. My daughter, my jewel Deb…was always worrying about me. Sometimes, like I was the child and she was the mother. It was kind of sick and sad.

CD: I see it as a very caring loving daughter trying to reach and assist her mom. I don’t see it as sick at all.

M: (Here her eyes brimmed over with tears) Thank you—that touched my heart. I’m so glad I met you in the local market place. That was God’s intervention, no coincidences with God, right?

CD: You’re a quick study my sister in Christ!  Yes, no coincidents with God. All planned and according to His timing. And I was there at just the right time…in other words, ‘His time.’

M: Jane spoke about you all the time, about your books, your writing ministry, and how you helped her through a lot of issues. And now about this TBL you’re writing for. I was intrigued by their website, and all the good writers on there. So many good articles on TBL, so good. I was following your own site for a long time too. Just reading here and there, and I felt pulled in by the verses and feelings I was starting to experience. I even downloaded your free e-books. My friend told me about them. They were interesting. And hearing you speak about God was very peaceful. That’s why I was so happy to meet you. You were saying all the right things. You weren’t pushy, or preachy, or a zealot. You were just what I needed from God. And He sent you. So, thanks be to God for you coming to help me.

CD:  Wow! I don’t know what to say, Thank you for your kind words. However, I can’t take credit for any of it. That belongs to God. Thanks be to God always, for He is good and knows what our needs are. And He definitely gets all the glory and credit always. He was behind this entire meeting and even this interview! Margaret, please tell us about your baptism. I want to hear about it.

M: So, the Baptism which was amazing! I was so happy, and over the top with joy. I felt like I really was a new person. I feel peace, something I never felt before. I guess that was His Spirit inside of me. I wasn’t angry anymore, I wasn’t sad. I was I guess you can call it, just a normal happy woman in love with God!  I was happy in the Spirit. So happy. Amen!

CD: I am so thrilled for you! Praise the LORD! You are a new creature in Christ! And please, if you are willing, can you tell the readers what other surprise took place during your joyful baptism. If that’s okay?

M: Yes! Of course. That is a huge part of my joy!  So, Deborah joined me in the baptism!  She was born again and a saved soul too! God guided me not to have an abortion and saved Deborah way back then. He saved me now. But then He saved Deborah once again at the baptism. Awesome, isn’t it? Full circle and all because of Him!

CD: Yes! Beyond awesome! How do you spend your days now that you live for Christ? Can you give us a couple of examples of the before and after personality of Margaret?

M: Basically, like I said before. I was kind of walking around in an angry haze. Not living, just I guess, existing. Not really having anything inside of me, not looking forward to anything. Just getting up, going to work, coming home going to sleep. And dating the wrong kind of men. Some beat me. Some cursed me. Some used me. Some abused me. But never loved me the way it is mentioned in the Bible. Never. I was so lost. I really was lost. But Praise Christ, He found me! No longer lost as they say. I have been found by Him and His love.

CD: Yes, you are no longer lost!  I’m so sorry you went through such horrific times. But God brought you through it. Look at what He’s done for you. You now can be a testimony and witness for the LORD, just like you are doing through this interview for TBL.

M: Yes. And I’ve met a Christian man at one of the Bible study classes. We are taking it slow but hit it off. He is a kind widower, a little older than me. Well, ten years older to be exact. But our souls are the same age! (She laughs out loud) And I put God first in all things now. So does he. I call him God’s gift to me. He is kind, sensitive, loving and so patient. Something I’ve never experienced before in a man. God sent me a good man. (She tears up here and dabs at her eyes). I am finally–happy.

CD: Margaret, that is so beautiful. God is bringing all good things your way. He is giving you beauty for ashes. It is wonderful and so typical of our LORD. Amen. Tell us what you’re looking forward to this Christmas.

M: Knowing for the first time ever the true meaning of Christmas as a Christian!  Knowing that I am saved through Christ, and He is my Lord and Savior. To truly celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. The whole story, especially reading the Gospel of Luke. Going to midnight mass, and honoring Christ the whole season and all the seasons I live. Finally, I am going to be spending a ‘first Christmas’ with my daughter Deborah, and her husband, and their three children, my grandchildren of course. And with my new beau, Scott. I can’t wait, and I am so thankful to God and His miraculous hands that saved me. For Christ’ blood that covers me. And I’m learning more and more about Him every day. I can’t get enough! Hallelujah!  I’m in love and on fire for Jesus!  I guess you can call me a Jesus Freak!

CD: Well, include me in on that too! Because that is the only kind to be!  Can’t get enough of Him! Margaret, in conclusion before we sign off. Again, thank you for your time and your story. This was a condensed version as I can’t possibly have included your entire life into one article. But I think we’ve managed to get in quite a bit. Maybe we can reach back to you six months from now, and you can give us updates.

M: Yes, I’d love to! That sounds great. Happy and Merry Christmas to you and the readers of TBL Faith News! God Bless you, and all of your readers!

CD: And Merry FIRST Christmas to you and yours Margaret. God Bless you all!

John 3:3-Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.