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A Personal Devotional by Debbie Hall
I was born into a family whose life was often out of control due to violent episodes caused by my dad’s alcoholism. As the years passed, our circumstances were reduced to a level of poverty due to my father’s downward spiral where we didn’t even have the bare necessities of life. My mother though always made the best of every situation. She was a kind, Christian woman who didn’t complain and taught us, by example, the difference between right and wrong so I knew about God but didn’t make Him part of my life.
Ten days after graduation I married “that Haines boy” as Daddy referred to him. Mama warned me, “Betty, you had better think about this, you know Ralph drinks.” I remember my reply – “Oh, Mama, I’ll get married and think about it later.” After all, he had promised not to drink after we were married. Our life together was a roller coaster ride of good times and bad. Once more my life was out of control. I felt overwhelmed by depression, anxiety, hopelessness, and so much rage. I felt I couldn’t live with him when he was drinking and didn’t want to live without him when he wasn’t. I felt that alcohol was to blame for all of our problems and tried every “cure” I could think of to stop his drinking, including the “geographical cure” -- moving to California to get far away from his drinking buddies. That didn’t work either, of course, and after 15 months we came back to Virginia.
Our youngest son, Mark, became very ill at age 12 with severe stomach pain and vomiting. His weight dropped drastically until he was just skin and bones. We took him to Children’s Hospital in Washington, D.C. where a team of doctors went to work on him immediately.
“Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.” Psalm 50:15.
It seemed that my troubles were more than I could bear. I lay in bed one night unable to sleep, dreading the thought of losing our youngest child. Mark’s situation seemed hopeless. As I lay there the thought came that I had not asked God to help. Then another thought – almost a voice – “Why should God help you? What have you ever done for Him?” I thought about it some more and decided that it wouldn’t hurt to ask God for help. I prayed, “God, I know I haven’t lived for You and I don’t have a right to ask You for anything, but if You would give Mark and me a second chance, I’ll live the rest of my life for You.” Eventually Mark was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. The tube that was inserted into his chest supplied him with nutrients around the clock and after 28 days in the hospital he was able to come home. They said it would be a long time before he would regain his weight and strength and he would be on medication for a long time but it was enough for me to know that he was going to get better. I’ll always be thankful that God gave us both a second chance.
“As it is written, how beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of good things.” Romans 10:15
About this time my sister invited me to attend church. I’m glad the Lord put it upon her heart to ask me. God’s timing is always right and I said yes. Now I was willing. I wasn’t going to wait any longer for my husband to go with me. I was sitting with her in church a couple of Sundays later and I felt the Holy Spirit urging me to go forward for church membership and baptism. My heart was pounding so hard I could not have stayed in my seat if I had tried. I became a member of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Manassas and was baptized that same evening in December of 1979. God had begun a new work in me. He was changing my heart and my life.
“Eye hath not seen nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the thing which God hath prepared for them that love Him.” I Corinthians 2:9
We moved from northern Virginia to Waynesboro in 1983 and alcohol was still disrupting our home life on occasion. On my second visit to Wayne Hills Baptist Church, I knew this was where God wanted me to be. When I was invited to be a part of the church’s ministry at the District Home, I said yes even though I had never been part of any ministry before. My new friends were truly a blessing and the ministry proved to be a rewarding adventure. I believe God put together this special relationship and blessed us over the years in order that His purpose might be accomplished.
“And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm and the caterpillar…” Joel 2:25
What a day it was when my husband finally hit bottom eighteen years ago and sought help for his alcohol addiction. By this time my faith was very small but another prayer was answered! Today he looks to Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. We attend Sunday school and worship services as a couple and he ministers with me at local nursing homes. We were privileged to be a part of the “church planting” team at Edward Avenue Baptist Church for two years and have enjoyed working at the “Love Thy Neighbor” food pantry. God is good!
When I called upon the Lord and committed my life to Him, he gave me a new heart and new desires. My spiritual eyes were opened and I was no longer walking in darkness. I now have a sense of belonging. I’m a part of the family of God. Today I have hope and joy in the Lord. I’m thankful for the privilege of my husband and me growing old together in our peaceful home in this beautiful area; thankful that Daddy accepted Jesus as Lord and spent his last years free from the bondage of alcoholism; thankful for my mother who lived to age 93 and never lost her zeal for living. I’m thankful for my pastor, my church family and friends, and for members of my family who are not walking with the Lord but I know they will someday because I have claimed God’s promises and asked His blessing upon them. Our Lord is faithful. He can be trusted. He has dealt wondrously with me and I will always give Him praise. What He has done in my life He will do for anyone who calls upon His name. We should never underestimate the Lord’s power to transform the life of anyone. Nothing is impossible with God.
Betty Haines, Waynesboro, VA
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