Today I would like to share a part of my personal testimony.  Jesus saved my soul on April 24, 1991.  Since then my life has changed drastically.  One of the many things the Lord has delivered me from was from being prejudice, specifically against African Americans.

I was raised to believe that African Americans were usually criminals and couldn’t be trusted for the most part.  I was constantly “indoctrinated” that people of color were to be feared and not let into our lives.  This hatred only grew as I became more rebellious as a teenager and young adult.  Even though I was raised and taught to believe these things, I still made a choice to “hate.”  My sister was taught the same thing and she made a choice not to hate.  She dated men of color, but kept it a secret for fear of what the family might say.  I remember I used to blindly say to her “how could you date colored people?”  (Although my word choice was much worse back then)  She would simply say to me that she didn’t see their color but how they treated her.  I was just like “whatever”, but still didn’t get it.

When I was in my early twenties my hatred was at it’s peak.  I was a waitress at the time.  When people of color would dine at the restaurant I never wanted to wait on them, pride fully thinking that they should be waiting on me.

One day another waitress bluntly asked me “Sue, why do you hate black people so much?”  “What have they ever done to you that you would have so much against someone you have never even meet,  just because of their skin color?”  “It is nothing but pride, because you think you are better than them, and let me tell you that you are not, in fact you are worse, because they don’t have anything against you!”  Well, I didn’t receive this truthful word at the time, but let me tell you, I can’t remember 20 minutes ago and this was 20 years ago, and I remember word for word what this girl said to me!  The seed planted took root even though the fruit of it did not sprout for 5 years! 

Then came April 24, 1991.  When I went to my first Christian church ever.  I repented, believed and became a Christian, by the Grace of God.  I was immediately filled with the Spirit and the Love of God.  My hatred vanished without a trace immediately!  Now that is the miracle of salvation! 

The next time I went to work, I Bible thumped the whole workplace J  Tuesday, prior to going to church Wednesday; I sat and got drunk with them.  By the time I came back to work after having received the Lord, I was freed from racism, a heavy drinking problem, I quit smoking…I was totally changed!  Praise God! 

One of the first questions I got was from a girl who I was friends with, who had seen my racial outburst in the past.  She asked me, “Sue, I have one question for you, Do you still hate blacks?”  My response was “No, actually if you want to know the truth, I am starting to prefer them, they have such a respect for God and these white folks keep making fun of me!"  LOL  She then said to me, “Well, I argue with my Uncle about the Bible blue-in-the-face, but I sure can’t argue with a changed life, that is a miracle!”

I look back now and see just how foolish I was and how much I missed out on as a result of my foolish pride.  I can now enjoy fellowship with the same people I would not have even given the time of day to in my BC days. 

Thank You Jesus!