Esther interpreting for church - Esther feels that she is a 'hearing deaf person'

My Personal Story

       I was born into a Christian home where both of my parents are Deaf.  My mother taught me to love God early on, sharing with me Bible stories and her personal experiences.  I don't remember accepting Christ into my heart.  I must have accepted Him into my heart at such a young age.  I thrilled at reading Bible stories, singing, and sharing Christ at school. 
       My parents ended up in divorce when I was 10 and I faced my first true struggles.  Although, I loved God, I had to fight anger and resentment.  I had to deal with feelings of abandonment from my father. 
       Becoming a teenager, I faced new struggles.  I loved having fun.  I wanted to have fun with my friends and struggled to remain true to God.  Sometimes the things that they wanted to do were flat out wrong. At first I was able to remain strong, but temptation crept in and I found myself doing those very same wrong things. 
       I also became rebellious in my heart.  I wanted to do my own thing and resented anyone telling me what to do or how to do something.  I wanted to be independent.
       God never let go of me, and in my heart, I never let go of God.  I continued going to church, never missing a week's attendance.  God kept putting people in my life that I admired for their faith and found that I hungered after the faith that they had.  Finally, I knew that I had been wandering in the faith.  I wanted so much to have a strong relationship with God and to love Him with all my might.  I knew that He loved me.  One day, I took a walk out in the woods.  I felt my heart break and I cried and cried. I gave my heart fully to Him again.  It was such a beautiful moment.
       It was a long road back.  In looking back, I can see God's guiding hand in bringing me back slowly.  He didn't change me immediately.  It took time...and I am still growing in Christ. 
       What amazes me is how He didn't let me go, when I was seeking after worldly pleasures.  He was still with me and I felt the Holy Spirit talking to my heart often.  I am also thankful to God for giving me such a sweet Christian mother who would teach me at a young age to love God.  I was never able to forget the things that she taught me.  God is truly so good. 
         

 Esther M. Doss