Part 3: Truth

I stayed on with the family and helped on the farm and waited for Sam’s letters. At that time, we lived next door to Bro. and Sis. H. S. Jackson. We soon learned that they were having Sunday school on their front porch every Sunday and when we were invited to attend, we were very happy to do so. It was there that we first met the saints and learned about the church of God. We enjoyed the meetings and went regularly.

From time to time, different ministers would come to the Jacksons’ and hold cottage meetings. I have always loved the Lord and now, for the first time, I was hearing the true gospel. My Lord helped me to recognize it was truth; it appealed to me. Bro. and Sis. C. C. Carver would come from Shreveport, LA, and Bro. and Sis. Max Williamson would come from Hammond, LA. Also, Bro. and Sis. Everett Hilburn came from Kentwood, LA, and Sis. Catherine Simpson from Loranger, LA, as well as Sis. Ruth Murphey. The singing was so pretty, and I loved the truth I was hearing. To go to church and pray for all the boys in the service was truly the thing to do and I was glad to be among praying folks who helped me pray for the safe return of my husband.

It was so important to me for Sam, Billie, and me to have a home of our own. Up to this point, life was far from satisfactory. Sam was in the service and we never had any time alone, nor did we have anything.

The first time I ever saw Sis. Catherine Simpson, she came and preached in a little church building down in the bayou. Her message was on the subject of marriage and divorce. It was just as though the Lord had sent a search light into my heart. I clearly knew where I stood and that from then on, I had to do something about it. Oh, this was not going to be easy! I spent lots of time in prayer with many tears. I had to be sure. My heart was open and I wanted to please God, but I had not expected this! I found a private place to be alone with God and carefully sought the Lord to help me.

I went to the altar for help. I still had the desire to be saved that I always had. I did get soul help and was baptized a few days later. As the days passed on, I became more conscious of my situation, and it troubled me greatly, yet I did not feel willing to give up the one whom I had learned to love so much, my darling Sam. He was my dream, my hope of lifelong happiness. Could I not live with him?

“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”* (Matthew 5:6) As I heard more of the truth preached, I recognized it as truth. At last I was in the light. I saw that God had a Church and people are born into it. I had found, at last, the Bible way. It showed me my true condition.

I was invited to go with a company to the Hammond, LA, camp meeting in June, 1942. It was a glorious meeting. There were so many dear saints there and no one seemed strange to me or hard to understand because they were the kind of people I had longed to be with. They were the blood-washed saints, redeemed and cleansed from sin.

On the fourth night of the meeting, I had such a heavy burden, I couldn’t rest. I attended young people’s meeting, but I was so burdened. I dismissed with the young congregation in prayer and asked the Lord to help me to make my decision.

I went to the sleeping house to prepare for the night’s service with such a burdened heart. Sis. Catherine Simpson was lying on her bed and said, “Gladys, I don’t believe I will go to meeting tonight. I need rest.”

I could wait no longer to tell of my burden. I felt she must go and hear my testimony that God intended for me to make that night. She had talked and worked with me so long and was the one God had sent to preach the gospel to me when I was in darkness. I said, “Sis. Catherine, I am burdened to death.” Then I fell on my face choked with tears. She said, “Gladys, is there anything I can do? I’ll do anything to help you. Let’s kneel right here and pray.”

So, she prayed for me. I couldn’t pray. I had gone as far as I could like that. The Lord wanted me to live for Him, and I wanted to as well, but I realized I could not please Him, having two husbands. So, I told the Lord that I would give up Sam in order to have peace in my soul.

Sis. Simpson went with me to services, and God’s word was preached. The minister even spoke of double marriage being wrong. When the altar call was given, I went with my burdens, knowing I couldn’t be happy until I made peace with God. I felt God wanted me to confess my trouble to the congregation. By God’s grace, I stood up and told them I was in double marriage and had had condemnation on my heart, but now I was willing to give up all to follow Jesus and do His will. Then, when I knelt at the altar, God took away my burden. I gave myself to Him and, praise His name, He saved me.

My Savior’s love is all I need, and if I will be a friend to Jesus, He will be a friend to me. He is my great Physician, and I trust Him for my healing. Praise God, He doesn’t ever fail me! I am rejoicing in my soul for this wonderful salvation. It satisfies my soul. My Savior is my Comforter, my all in all. I can unload all my cares and sorrows at His feet and find peace and rest to my soul. He is ever present with me.

One lady said that if she was me, she would not give Sam up for anything; but I had counted the cost, though it was great. The Lord reasoned with me and showed me His will. The devil tried to tempt me and to confuse me at times, telling me it wasn’t worth the cost. He told me I might have to give up my baby to my husband if I wouldn’t live with Sam. And when I would think of the deep love I had for him, I thought, “If I ever see him again, I would want to live with him.” I could only trust God to work as He saw best.

I remembered my promise to the Lord. I knew the enemy of my soul was sneaking around, trying to defeat me. “The devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”* (1 Peter 5:8) The Spirit led me to pray, and as I went down on my knees before God, pouring out the burden of my heart to Him, He came to my rescue. Praise His name!

In a vision I saw a large, clean yard with no grass, but white sand on it. The sun shone so brightly and sparkled against the grains of sand. There was a chicken stretched out in the sun so comfortably. It seemed to me that my path was clean, and there was nothing between my soul and my Savior. I saw myself as free as that chicken and rejoiced to find such sweet comfort in the Lord. Praise His name!

I’ll never go back to the beggarly elements of the world. I am encouraged to press on and do my Savior’s will at any cost. I can find rest at Jesus’ feet, and when hungry for soul food, I can go to Jesus. And in secret prayer, I can see my way clear and I believe He will take care of it all.