How a forgotten Bible became a life-long companion

Adrienne Simantos describes how the Bible she received and forgot about at the age of 18 transformed her life.

Adrienne Simantos. Christchurch, New Zealand. Photo: New Zealand War Cry (NEZ03DJ-1)

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand — Growing up, I attended Sunday school and, later, church, but I never read the Bible or thought about God’s will for my life. I was only interested in doing things my way.

I was a troublesome teenager and caused my mother great heartache. I was suspended from school at the age of 14 and kept running away from home. My mother often had to walk the streets, looking for me at night.

Downhill slide

For my 18th birthday she gave me a Bible but I put it in a drawer and forgot about it. I got married at 21 and had four children. When my children were old enough, I returned to work and my life took a downhill slide.

I started going out a lot with my friends from work and life became one big party. My marriage hit rock bottom. When my friends telephoned me to come to another party, even if I was in the middle of cooking dinner, I would drop everything and leave my family to fend for themselves.

The government department I was working for was being restructured and people were scared of losing their jobs. We all became selfish and spiteful and did not care about our work colleagues. A woman in my department called Valda desperately needed a friend and kept coming to me. I thought she was a nuisance and kept pushing her away. She was deeply hurt by this but I did not care.

What I did not know was that Valda was dying of cancer. She had to give up work and two days before she died she asked for me. I felt terrible because despite all I had done to hurt her she still loved me and wanted to be my friend. That day, through Valda, I saw what I had become and I truly hated what I saw.

Searching

I left my job and started searching for something, but I did not know what. I began to work as a volunteer at a Salvation Army soup kitchen and started attending church. Later, I became a Christian and took my Bible out of that drawer.

After 37 years, through God’s grace, I am still with my husband. I wish my mother were alive today to see how God has answered her prayers and to know that the Bible she gave me all those years ago is now my constant companion.

Adapted from an article that appeared in the New Zealand War Cry
(WR 375/6 - 3.03)