My mother was the person who helped me find God. Thank God for godly mothers! However, it was not always like this. Let me explain.
My mother was born and grew up on Price Edward Island, the idyllic island made famous by the Anne of Green Gables books. However, life was not too idyllic for her. Their family farmed and made a basic living until the great depression hit. Times were tough and food was in short supply. My mother never liked turnips as an adult because that was about the only food they had one winter. She was forced to stop going to school by grade eight because she had worn out her only pair of shoes and could not walk the half mile to school in the snow. World War II had started, and men went to fight in the war and things got progressively worse. Her father stayed to work on the farm, but he was abusive to the girls in the family, a secret that was closely guarded. A few years later he was found dead of a heart attack, sitting on the tractor.
Meanwhile my dad grew up in beautiful Nova Scotia, not far from PEI. He was born into a large dysfunctional family, where there was no father present, only a overwhelmed and promiscuous mother. By the time my dad reached the age of 14, social services decided it would be best for the children to be put in foster homes. Not wanting this, he left to make his own way. He worked as a farm hand until he turned 17 and was able join the war effort (lied about his age). God was not part of his life and even less so when he experienced war.
In the Canadian army he was a foot solider sent to fight in Nazi Germany. He lost many of his friends and was deeply impacted by the violence of such a personal battle. This only hardened his heart against God. He was severely wounded and left for dead when his platoon advanced on a fortified the German bunker. God had other plans for him and by extraordinary circumstances he survived and was sent home to Canada to recuperate in the hospital for six months.
Several years later after the conclusion of the war in 1945, he met my mother. She was attractive and fun loving, and they had a good time going to clubs, drinking and dancing. Not long after they got married and had children.
Several years later my mother’s life changed dramatically. A Bible worker came to her door and invited her to some meetings in town. My father who was still in the military had no interest in such things, so mother walked to the meetings alone. Mother was convicted and was baptized into the Seventh-day Adventist church.
This is where things changed in my parent’s relationship. God had given mom a new heart. She no longer wanted to party and get drunk. She had found something better. My dad lost his party partner and was not happy about it. Although they had differences, they stayed married throughout their lives. From this time on, mother took my brother and me to church ever week.
Since my dad was in the military we moved frequently. When we were in Germany for the second time, there was no Sabbath keeping church within walking distance (dad never permitted my mother to learn to drive). My mother was a very determined person, and she said it was important that we still go to church, so for four years we faithfully attended the Salvation Army church each Sunday. They were fine Christians and friendly people.
I would say the military culture was not the most conducive to raising Christian children. Since my dad was almost always at work or the men’s club on the base, my mother would encourage him to have some father-son time every so often. When I was 10, I remember going to many realistic war movies with my dad. To him this was just old hat, but to me they were exciting terrifying at the same time. I learned at an early age that war was brutal.
Another activity was to play the slot machines. At the men’s club on base dad would frequently be there to socialize and drink with his army buddies. What do you do with a 10-year-old? Take him with you! Although children cannot be in the bar, they can play in the game room (darts, pool, slot machines, etc.) Dad taught me how to play the slot machines and he and his buddies would give me money to play the slots so my dad could stay longer. There was only one rule. If I hit the jackpot, I had to buy everyone a round of beer! I hit the jackpot several times and after paying for the beers I took home quite a bit a money for a ten-year-old. As I think back, I am sure my mother prayed for me many times! Today I am never tempted to gamble.
When we moved back to New Brunswick, Canada, I attended an evangelistic meeting with my mother. At the end of the series there was an alter call. There was about 100 in attendance, and I felt the Holy Spirit speaking to me to get up and walk up front. At fourteen I was afraid to be the first to get out of my chair. I can still remember the struggle with God, and I looked up at my mother and she gently whispered that I should go. I did and at that was the turning point in my life. To this day I have never looked back.
I attended public school and in the early 70’s. There was smoking on school grounds, behind the scenes drug use and a general degradation of morals in the classrooms. I know my mother was concerned and started to see some of the influences upon me. She decided that she wanted to send me to a Christian boarding school, but money was a problem.
You see my mother never worked outside the home, could not drive and dad only gave her a very small stipend to spend. She asked my dad for money, and he said no, but he said he would not stop me from going. He figured this would put an end to this nonsense. He did not know my God.
At that time school cost $2,000/year (gas was $.40 gallon and minimum wage was $2.00/hr.). Mom prayed and prayed, and the Lord answered her prayer. She found a job during the day as a nanny that she could walk to and she also knit custom sweaters in the evenings and on weekends. She was a skilled and prolific knitter. She would knit one sweater a week (each one took 40 hours) and sold them to a tourist shop in Price Edward Island. She made $50/sweater (they sold for $150). She saved her money and was able to send both my brother and I to the Christian boarding school! God said, ‘Before you call, I will answer”. He has proven this over and over.
I went to boarding academy in Oshawa Ontario, 1,000 miles from home. I left by train by myself with my trunk onboard. This was another turning point in my life as I was determined not to disappoint my mother or my God. This was the best thing that ever happened to me. I had Christian friends and the teachers were kind and committed Christians. There I learned to be independent and grow my faith in God.
After I graduated academy (high school), I wanted to go to a Christian University. Again, money was an issue. $7,000/year this time. Although work was hard to find then, God gave me great jobs every summer. Mother continued to work, and the Canadian government had a very generous college grant program which I qualified for. I also took out student loans.
This may sound strange today, but my mother gave me some sound advice. She said, “You are to get an education and to find a wife.” The education was difficult but finding a wife was the challenge. After my sophomore year, I decided I should get serious about dating someone. But who? I was not into ‘trying all the different flavors in the box of chocolates’ so I decided on another plan. I said to God “I need a beautiful, godly wife that believes like I do. I do not know how to find one, please sent someone to me”. Why not? Did God not provide for Jacob? I forgot about it and within a month or so an older friend of mine suggested I ask out a coworker of hers. It so happened that this person was in my P.E. class and we had to run laps around the track for part of the grade. Conveniently it so happened my dorm room window faced the track. With a bit of timing, I could coordinate my track time and catch up with her. I had never seriously dated anyone prior, but when God provides, He knows what He is doing. We dated for a year and a half and got married two weeks after we both graduated. We have been happily married ever since. This is the loving God we serve.
The next challenge was a job for the two of us. The country was in recession and interest rates were skyrocketing. What does God care about that! God provided us both wonderful jobs at a hospital in Orlando, Florida. As an added bonus He connected up with a fantastic active church in which we thrived.
God tried to reach my father over the years. He saved my father’s life two times in dramatic ways. We spoke to him of God’s love on a regular basis, but he was not interested. Unfortunately, dad had a massive heart attack shortly after retirement and passed away. God works to save us all, but he doesn’t force his will. This is a lesson to all not to wait too long to give your heart to Jesus.
Time has flown by, and it has been over 40 years ago since we graduated from college. I could go on and on with how God has provided. As I grow older, I look back and see how God has led. He took a poor boy whose parents had difficult challenges and lifted me up from the grime of the world, blessed me and promised me a home in heaven. God is real and alive. What can be better than that!
I tell my students to give their hearts to Jesus when you are young. There are so many advantages, and it is so worth it.
Life is hard, but without God, hopeless. Stay strong till the end and trust in God.
Written by Allan Smith, 2025
My mother was born and grew up on Price Edward Island, the idyllic island made famous by the Anne of Green Gables books. However, life was not too idyllic for her. Their family farmed and made a basic living until the great depression hit. Times were tough and food was in short supply. My mother never liked turnips as an adult because that was about the only food they had one winter. She was forced to stop going to school by grade eight because she had worn out her only pair of shoes and could not walk the half mile to school in the snow. World War II had started, and men went to fight in the war and things got progressively worse. Her father stayed to work on the farm, but he was abusive to the girls in the family, a secret that was closely guarded. A few years later he was found dead of a heart attack, sitting on the tractor.
Meanwhile my dad grew up in beautiful Nova Scotia, not far from PEI. He was born into a large dysfunctional family, where there was no father present, only a overwhelmed and promiscuous mother. By the time my dad reached the age of 14, social services decided it would be best for the children to be put in foster homes. Not wanting this, he left to make his own way. He worked as a farm hand until he turned 17 and was able join the war effort (lied about his age). God was not part of his life and even less so when he experienced war.
In the Canadian army he was a foot solider sent to fight in Nazi Germany. He lost many of his friends and was deeply impacted by the violence of such a personal battle. This only hardened his heart against God. He was severely wounded and left for dead when his platoon advanced on a fortified the German bunker. God had other plans for him and by extraordinary circumstances he survived and was sent home to Canada to recuperate in the hospital for six months.
Several years later after the conclusion of the war in 1945, he met my mother. She was attractive and fun loving, and they had a good time going to clubs, drinking and dancing. Not long after they got married and had children.
Several years later my mother’s life changed dramatically. A Bible worker came to her door and invited her to some meetings in town. My father who was still in the military had no interest in such things, so mother walked to the meetings alone. Mother was convicted and was baptized into the Seventh-day Adventist church.
This is where things changed in my parent’s relationship. God had given mom a new heart. She no longer wanted to party and get drunk. She had found something better. My dad lost his party partner and was not happy about it. Although they had differences, they stayed married throughout their lives. From this time on, mother took my brother and me to church ever week.
Since my dad was in the military we moved frequently. When we were in Germany for the second time, there was no Sabbath keeping church within walking distance (dad never permitted my mother to learn to drive). My mother was a very determined person, and she said it was important that we still go to church, so for four years we faithfully attended the Salvation Army church each Sunday. They were fine Christians and friendly people.
I would say the military culture was not the most conducive to raising Christian children. Since my dad was almost always at work or the men’s club on the base, my mother would encourage him to have some father-son time every so often. When I was 10, I remember going to many realistic war movies with my dad. To him this was just old hat, but to me they were exciting terrifying at the same time. I learned at an early age that war was brutal.
Another activity was to play the slot machines. At the men’s club on base dad would frequently be there to socialize and drink with his army buddies. What do you do with a 10-year-old? Take him with you! Although children cannot be in the bar, they can play in the game room (darts, pool, slot machines, etc.) Dad taught me how to play the slot machines and he and his buddies would give me money to play the slots so my dad could stay longer. There was only one rule. If I hit the jackpot, I had to buy everyone a round of beer! I hit the jackpot several times and after paying for the beers I took home quite a bit a money for a ten-year-old. As I think back, I am sure my mother prayed for me many times! Today I am never tempted to gamble.
When we moved back to New Brunswick, Canada, I attended an evangelistic meeting with my mother. At the end of the series there was an alter call. There was about 100 in attendance, and I felt the Holy Spirit speaking to me to get up and walk up front. At fourteen I was afraid to be the first to get out of my chair. I can still remember the struggle with God, and I looked up at my mother and she gently whispered that I should go. I did and at that was the turning point in my life. To this day I have never looked back.
I attended public school and in the early 70’s. There was smoking on school grounds, behind the scenes drug use and a general degradation of morals in the classrooms. I know my mother was concerned and started to see some of the influences upon me. She decided that she wanted to send me to a Christian boarding school, but money was a problem.
You see my mother never worked outside the home, could not drive and dad only gave her a very small stipend to spend. She asked my dad for money, and he said no, but he said he would not stop me from going. He figured this would put an end to this nonsense. He did not know my God.
At that time school cost $2,000/year (gas was $.40 gallon and minimum wage was $2.00/hr.). Mom prayed and prayed, and the Lord answered her prayer. She found a job during the day as a nanny that she could walk to and she also knit custom sweaters in the evenings and on weekends. She was a skilled and prolific knitter. She would knit one sweater a week (each one took 40 hours) and sold them to a tourist shop in Price Edward Island. She made $50/sweater (they sold for $150). She saved her money and was able to send both my brother and I to the Christian boarding school! God said, ‘Before you call, I will answer”. He has proven this over and over.
I went to boarding academy in Oshawa Ontario, 1,000 miles from home. I left by train by myself with my trunk onboard. This was another turning point in my life as I was determined not to disappoint my mother or my God. This was the best thing that ever happened to me. I had Christian friends and the teachers were kind and committed Christians. There I learned to be independent and grow my faith in God.
After I graduated academy (high school), I wanted to go to a Christian University. Again, money was an issue. $7,000/year this time. Although work was hard to find then, God gave me great jobs every summer. Mother continued to work, and the Canadian government had a very generous college grant program which I qualified for. I also took out student loans.
This may sound strange today, but my mother gave me some sound advice. She said, “You are to get an education and to find a wife.” The education was difficult but finding a wife was the challenge. After my sophomore year, I decided I should get serious about dating someone. But who? I was not into ‘trying all the different flavors in the box of chocolates’ so I decided on another plan. I said to God “I need a beautiful, godly wife that believes like I do. I do not know how to find one, please sent someone to me”. Why not? Did God not provide for Jacob? I forgot about it and within a month or so an older friend of mine suggested I ask out a coworker of hers. It so happened that this person was in my P.E. class and we had to run laps around the track for part of the grade. Conveniently it so happened my dorm room window faced the track. With a bit of timing, I could coordinate my track time and catch up with her. I had never seriously dated anyone prior, but when God provides, He knows what He is doing. We dated for a year and a half and got married two weeks after we both graduated. We have been happily married ever since. This is the loving God we serve.
The next challenge was a job for the two of us. The country was in recession and interest rates were skyrocketing. What does God care about that! God provided us both wonderful jobs at a hospital in Orlando, Florida. As an added bonus He connected up with a fantastic active church in which we thrived.
God tried to reach my father over the years. He saved my father’s life two times in dramatic ways. We spoke to him of God’s love on a regular basis, but he was not interested. Unfortunately, dad had a massive heart attack shortly after retirement and passed away. God works to save us all, but he doesn’t force his will. This is a lesson to all not to wait too long to give your heart to Jesus.
Time has flown by, and it has been over 40 years ago since we graduated from college. I could go on and on with how God has provided. As I grow older, I look back and see how God has led. He took a poor boy whose parents had difficult challenges and lifted me up from the grime of the world, blessed me and promised me a home in heaven. God is real and alive. What can be better than that!
I tell my students to give their hearts to Jesus when you are young. There are so many advantages, and it is so worth it.
Life is hard, but without God, hopeless. Stay strong till the end and trust in God.
Written by Allan Smith, 2025