“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”  - John 3:16

I think my first Bible verse I learned was John 3:16 and I quote it often. To me I feel that this is God’s promise for all of us.

We moved to Hudson on October 31, 1945 and have made it our home all these years. (My parents Arlo & Laura Peterson & 4 brothers). Since we were Norwegian—Bethel Lutheran was our church. I attended Sunday School thru 12^th grade-2 years of Confirmation, sang in Children’s Junior and Senior Choir, Luther League on Sunday evening, Summer Bible School, and Camp at Luther Point. All these were part of growing up at Bethel.

After marriage and 3 children, we attended church every Sunday and the kids grew up learning about Jesus. It was very important to have our children follow in the faith and be good Christians. To be a good Christian meant to be faithful, kind to others, see the good in people less fortunate than us and think of others before yourself.

Life was good and then my husband at age 50 started going though a crisis which was later diagnosed as Bi-polar disorder. It was a psychiatric illness characterize by manic episodes and then usually alternating with periods of depression. He lost his job but thank goodness the company he worked for gave him his retirement. For 10 years before he died, he suffered with mental illness. He blamed our family for everything that went wrong in his life. Though faith and church and support from my mother, siblings and friends we managed. One person asked how I could still be so positive while life was crashing around us and I answered: “What’s the alternative? A best friend who was a recovering alcoholic would tell me that when I said I didn’t have any “choices” on handling the situation, she said “you always have choices”.  Today I have 5 grandchildren and I can’t tell you how much I love them. They give me so much joy and Addy says “I’m the busiest Grandma she knows.”

As we approach this Lenten season, I am reminded that God helps us through difficult times.  I now have a wonderful sweetheart who always watches over me and shares my faith and is my best friend.

Prayer: Thank you God for always being there for me.  For giving me parents who guided me in my faith, for a church that showed me the way and a family I could always count on.  May I never forget your love, compassion and grace.  In Jesus name, Amen.

Judy Rogers