In 1987 our 13 year old daughter ran away from home. That was devastating to my wife and I. We explored every, even remote, avenue trying to locate her. At one point I questioned possible cab drivers, bus drivers etc and deveopled a series of leads she appeared to have gone to another state 1000 miles from home. So I drove there, following leads along the way (all of these leads later proved spurious, result of strangers wanting to sound helpful).
I ended up walking the streets of a resort town in Colorado where random teens hung out.
After several days with no success I was passing a shop which carried handmade silver jewelry. A particular cross necklace caught my eye. I bought it, put it on, beneath my shirt- close to my heart vowing to always keep her close and on my mind.
After 18 months we did find her, she had been safe though deluded, and has had a good life in spite of that foolish time. I continued to wear the cross necklace under my shirt, close to my heart. I took it off only when having open heart surgery in 2014.
In 2023, the Lord impressed me to engage in a lengthy fast/prayer time to refocus on Him. One day I was getting dressed and was tucking the cross inside my shirt as usual when I "heard" Him ask "Are you ashamed of Me? Does that need to be hidden?"
Since that day, I answered those questions by wearing it proudly exposed for all to see- still near my heart but proclaiming Who I follow. I cannot begin to relate the number of conversations about the Lord have started because people take note, ask a question or wonder - just what is this all about. It's not a tiny cross, about 1 1/2 inches tall, sort of rustic, primitive design ....in short it catches the eye. There it shall be as long as I have breath for all to see and perhaps wonder - why does this stodgy, sort of quiet guy have this around his neck?
In 1987 our 13 year old daughter ran away from home. That was devastating to my wife and I. We explored every, even remote, avenue trying to locate her. At one point I questioned possible cab drivers, bus drivers etc and deveopled a series of leads she appeared to have gone to another state 1000 miles from home. So I drove there, following leads along the way (all of these leads later proved spurious, result of strangers wanting to sound helpful).
I ended up walking the streets of a resort town in Colorado where random teens hung out.
After several days with no success I was passing a shop which carried handmade silver jewelry. A particular cross necklace caught my eye. I bought it, put it on, beneath my shirt- close to my heart vowing to always keep her close and on my mind.
After 18 months we did find her, she had been safe though deluded, and has had a good life in spite of that foolish time. I continued to wear the cross necklace under my shirt, close to my heart. I took it off only when having open heart surgery in 2014.
In 2023, the Lord impressed me to engage in a lengthy fast/prayer time to refocus on Him. One day I was getting dressed and was tucking the cross inside my shirt as usual when I "heard" Him ask "Are you ashamed of Me? Does that need to be hidden?"
Since that day, I answered those questions by wearing it proudly exposed for all to see- still near my heart but proclaiming Who I follow. I cannot begin to relate the number of conversations about the Lord have started because people take note, ask a question or wonder - just what is this all about. It's not a tiny cross, about 1 1/2 inches tall, sort of rustic, primitive design ....in short it catches the eye. There it shall be as long as I have breath for all to see and perhaps wonder - why does this stodgy, sort of quiet guy have this around his neck?