Don Jones

My Story

I grew up in a good home although not a Christian home. I had a good mother and an awesome father. Even though he was not a born again believer he taught my brother and myself how to be honest, moral, loving men and gave us a strong sense of family. At some point, early in life, I developed a personal philosophy that would shape who I was for the first 34 years of my life. That is that if I did not let anyone get close to me they would never be able to hurt me. What I believed was keeping me emotionally safe was actually causing great pain, suffering and loneliness. I was so afraid, of what I don't know. I would do anything and go to great lengths not to draw any attention to my self. Because of this I grew to be extremely introverted and angry and fearful. Combine this with the fact that I had a violent temper that would go off at any time, many times without provocation, and it made for a very unpredictable and unlovely person.

In 1972 I married my High School sweetheart. In 1979 I came home from work and she had left a letter for me telling me good-bye. After 11 years, 4 dating and 7 married, she had had enough of who I was. Remember I would not let anyone close, even her. Devastated and not knowing what to do I turned to my friends, alcohol and drugs for an answer.

I moved to Florida to be near to my family and got a job with the company my brother worked for. Two of the men that worked there were Christians who tried to witness to me, prayed for me and gave me a Bible, which promptly went on the highest shelf of the book case I could find so I would not have to look at it. I returned their kindness with anger and verbal abuse but they continued to pray for me.

In 1980 I met Susie and we were married in 1981. Two short years later she was dragging me to marriage counselors. I could see another divorce coming and knew I could not go through that again. So I got a stool, got the Bible and started reading it. While driving in my truck one day one of my favorite songs by Jackson Browne, "Running On Empty" came on. It has a line in it that says: "Look around to the friends that I used to turn to, to pull me through, looking into their eyes I see they're running too." When I heard that it hit me that no one on this earth could help me with what I was going through or help me with me. So under conviction of the Holy Spirit I turned my life over to Jesus. Immediately I knew everything was going to be fine, 34 years of anger and turmoil were lifted off my heart and my mind. In spite of the fact that I used to make fun of Him and His people and abuse those who were trying to lead me to Him, when I needed Him, He did not turn me away. He opened his arms, wrapped His loving arms around me and welcomed me.

God has been working on me ever since. Jesus Christ not only saved me but He saved my marriage because of the changes He has made in my life. Do you know Him today?