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FAITH LIKE A CHILD |
My name is Gary and I am 21 years old and I think I am one of the biggest Jars of Clay fans around. I almost fainted when I was at the concert Nov '99 and they signed my CD cover. Here is my testimony.
I was not raised in any religion. When I was 5, my mother tried to get me to go to Religious Education classes and I put up a fight. She did not want the hassle so I did not attend. Religion was not brought up anymore. Then one day, the summer before 8th grade, my parents decided that my brothers and I would go to St. Mary's, the local Catholic school. I went there and sorta played catch-up on the sacraments and rituals that I had missed out. I did them out of a sorta requirement rather than the fact that I knew I was drawing close to God.
Skip a few years, due to the fact that not much happened. My high school was also Catholic and they required a retreat each year. In my senior year we went away for a three-day retreat which was the best thing ever. The theme of the retreat was "Faith Like a Child;" boy, did that help me. We listened to the song the first night and they broke it down and explained it to us. I instantly fell in love with the music and gradually fell in love with the Lord. I wanted to have that kind of Faith that God wanted me to have. I wanted that faith that could move a mountain.
Then, that summer my mother and I were up late getting things ready for the garage sale we would have the next day. I decided to have her listen to the music that I had fallen in love with. She listened to "Faith Like a Child;" she loved it. Then she listened to "Boy on a String." When "Boy on a String" was over, she asked me what I felt that song meant. I told her that it was like a person who was controlled by a drug addiction and they let that dictate how they lived their life rather than letting God be the dictator of their life. Little did I know, at that very moment, my mother was a drug addict. After that I went to bed.
The next morning I left for our church softball tournament. After it was over I came home. My father was home, but not my Mom, which was unusual because they are usually both home. I asked my dad where my mother was and he told me she was in drug rehab. Later, during her rehab treatment she told me that one of the reasons she was brought in was because of how that song touched me to touch her.
I thank God that I am able to listen to Him as well as I can. I allow God to use me whenever and wherever He needs to. Through Jars of Clay's music, I have turned people to God and God has brought me closer to Him. Also, in '99 I went to that concert and brought my cousin. We never talked about God and I did not know if she even believed in God. After the concert, and to this day, we can talk about God.
Because Jars of Clay's music, which God used to draw me close, I, last year, Aug 2000 to May 2001, was a Catholic missionary for N. E. T. (National Evangelization Teams) Ministries, www.netusa.org. I was able to put on retreats for young Catholics in sixth through twelfth grade, and give back to God the greatest gift of faith he gave me: faith like a child.
I, too, was once a "Boy on a String." I used to do things to please people, to get them to like me, but now I realize that if I love God and let Him dictate my life, then if people do not like me they are denying God and that is not good. I am the one that people can turn to for great sound religious advice and, God, I love You and thank You from the bottom of my heart. Praise God for all He did for you, all He does for you, and all He will do for you.
"For I know well the plans I have for you, plans for your welfare not for woe. Plans for a future full of hope." Jeremiah 29:11God Bless you each and every last one of you and thank you, Jars of Clay, for using your talents for the greater Glory of our Lord and Savior, The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. I will pray for each and every one of you!
Gary Esch
P.S. Any feedback on my testimony, or to personally share your testimony with me, EMAIL ME AT SimpsonFan1980@aol.com, or if you are on AOL or have AIM feel free to IM me: SimpsonFan1980! I would love to talk to anyone who is of any Christian Faith! God Bless y'all!