An Wakening

The first of many

Published on July 13, 2004 By oleteach In Home & Family

My mother taught her large family of ten offspring by her example more than by specific instructions. She may not have known all the finer points of what it meant to be a Christian, but she obviously looked beyond her own abilities to raise her family responsibly.

I will always remember her as a woman of prayer. She was very conscious of God’s presence in her heart. To me she reflected calmness, a freedom, and a peace that came from her trust in God’s goodness. I can still remember the day that I became aware of that presence in my heart too. What mother was teaching me was very real. I knew because I could feel it inside. Something within me moved with a deep awareness of the reality of God and something in my mind confirmed the truth of what I saw in her. I found myself powerfully attracted to God. In the knowing of Him, I felt complete, whole and at one with my purpose for being.

There hung in our simple home, a picture that I often studied. It was an artist’s rendition of Jesus standing before a door, knocking and waiting for someone to let Him in. It took me a long time before I noticed that there was no latch or doorknob visible on the outside of door. It could only be opened from within.

On that day I realized that though I was being raised in a Christian home and had been baptized and welcomed into the church, the Body of Christ, I knew at that moment, Jesus was asking me for my personal commitment to follow His way, His teaching, and His values.

It was like a light bulb went on in my head. I accepted Jesus into my life. I was the same young girl of twelve that I was before, but I felt a certain knowledge that now God would be making changes in me that I could not make through my own wisdom, knowledge or strength. I knew that He had a special plan for me as He does for everyone who chooses Him. I opened that door and took His hand. I was willing to go where He would lead me.

Did I always follow His lead? Did I fully realize what I was doing? Certainly not, but my offering at that moment has been made over and over again as the years go on. It reminds me now of a story of a gift given to Queen Victoria by a young prince.

This is the story of the mountain of light, the Kohinoor diamond given by the very young Rajah of Molwa in 1851 to Queen Victoria.

As the legend goes, when the Rajah matured, he went to London where he asked to see the diamond. Those in charge became alarmed, thinking that perhaps now that this prince was a man, he would ask to have the diamond back since he had not know it’s real value. Nevertheless, they brought out the diamond and the prince asked to hold it in his hands. The guards became even more alarmed thinking now, for sure, he would carry it back to Molwa.

The Rajah held the diamond, taking in its great beauty and then he handed it back saying, “Now that I know exactly what this diamond is worth, I again give it back to the queen. May she enjoy its beauty for years to come.”

That is the end of the story as I remember hearing it. I tried to link to the google version of this story but it did not work . Here is where I found it. Link

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