Testimonials: Jim Keesler
My name is Jim...My grandfather was married, and with grown children of his own. He slept with one of his much-younger cousins. This produced my mother. My mother was adopted and raised by my grandfather’s sister; who was married and with grown children of her own. One of these grown sons raped my mother. This produced my older brother, (who was later put up for adoption). Two years later, when my mother was sixteen, she slipped out of the house and over to a near-by military base. About seven months later, I was born; weighing three pounds nine ounces; with crossed eyes, and cerebral palsy. Just weeks before my birth, my mother was married; but to someone who was not my father.
When I was about four, my mother took me and left my “adoptive father”. Two years later, she was married to my step-father. Because my step-father introduced my mother to drugs besides the alcoholism, breaking into or robbing places at night, and abusing us; (he broke my arm, and tried to drown me), I had to learn how to care for myself as best I could. When I turned eight, I was put in Foster Care where I was molested; and I bounced from place to place because I was not able to adjust to living in a “normal” home.
By the time I was in my late teens, the physical and emotional abuse and neglect that I had experienced as a child, took their toll. I had little hope; with mixed feelings about myself and my future. In my early years, I had learned to be independent and self-reliant, but not how to shake the distorted view I had about God. Where I worked, there was a girl about my age that had been telling me about a loving heavenly Father, and His plan for my life. Not knowing exactly how to pray; or even if He would listen to me, I sat in my room one night thinking about my life; and that nobody loved me. What seemed to be a still small voice said, “I love you”. I knelt by my bed, and surrendered my life to God. He has taught me how to forgive, and to accept forgiveness. He has brought healing, and purpose in my life. Because I have a loving heavenly Father, I no longer have mixed feelings about myself,
or my future. 
This is my son Jonathan. He is loved by me, my wife (his mother) and God.
Thanks for letting me share my story.
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