Testimonial II: A Book of Short Stories

By Rev. M.G. Hayes

Testimonial 2 by Rev. M. G. Hayes brings hope, inspiration, and a Christian message that encourages old and young alike to realize that God is true to his word. Whether you are a seasoned hand with faith and spirituality or a brand-new member of the youth ministry, Testimonial 2 can uplift your heart, speak to your soul and spirit, and teach you the Bible’s wisdom through modern storytelling. Rev. Hayes’s work begins with thirty-eight Christian stories; some are tales of triumph, some are stories of loss and missed opportunity, and still others are just good old reality checks for the soul. But all of the stories contained herein remind us that no matter how immune we may think we are to misfortune, God never promised sun without rain or laughter without pain. Faith is the assured expectation of things hoped for. In Testimonial 2, Hayes plays out the true definition of Christian faith in everyday parables that teach timeless lessons and speak eternal truths everyone could understand.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Covenant Books, Inc.
• Release date: Feb 18, 2022
• ISBN: 9781638856153

Book preview

A Hard Lesson

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There once lived this Christian family named the Burkes. The couple had three daughters. Their father was a traveling salesman and was away from home four days a week. Their mother was a stay-at-home mom. She took good care of her children the best she could and was a very good housekeeper. Mrs. Burke would clean and cook for her girls every day. She made sure that they finished all school homework every night. The girls were smart and intelligent.

Years later, the two older daughters graduated from high school. One of them could never seem to hold down a job, while the other daughter in college was inconsistent in what she wants to do. The girls became very contentious toward their parents. Their parents did not understand why or what they have done that made them want to fight, argue, and disagree with them. The younger sibling saw, heard, and learned from her older sisters as to how she can have her own way. Mrs. Burke lost control over her home. She evidently lost her family because of the two things she lacked: appropriate and proper discipline and self-control in her home.

What the Burkes did not know was that the right kind of discipline should have been administered to their children when they were young. Also, self-control is something they must learn and know for themselves, and it should have been taught to the children when they were young. What the Burkes did not know was that appropriate and proper discipline and self-control should have been taught to their children like a good education. It must be enforced in their life for personal and professional reasons. Discipline and self-control go together like a pair of pants and a shirt. You don’t want to go very far in life with just pants without having a shirt. When one acquires this lifestyle, it will help them become successful in whatever they want to do in life. That is why it was so important for the Burkes to know the skill of discipline and self-control, for self-help and the purpose of teaching it to their children while they were very young. Doing this will keep your family together.

Proper discipline and self-control are just as important as a good education, sometimes more important. Remember there are a lot of educated people in prison.

It’s Never Too Late

It is never too late in life to make a difference in someone else’s life. You are never too old, poor, nor different. You must first do the right thing and allow the Lord to perform a miracle in your life. You must learn and teach discipline and self-control. Think about it. Making a difference in someone else’s life must begin with your life.

Ephesians 6:1–2, Children, obey your parents in the Lord; for this is right. Honor thy father and thy mother, which is the first commandment with promise.

What would you do?

A Life of Hope

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This is a story about a twenty-one-year-old man named Harry. He grew up living on the east side of Detroit, Michigan, with his mother. He was the only child. His mother became a Christian a year before she died. She left Harry the big old house they were living in. He used to go to church with her every Sunday even though he was not a believer. Harry felt like God took his family. He grew up lonely and bitter. He forgot his father because his father died when he was very young. His father and mother never married; Harry kept old pictures of his father in his wallet that his mother gave to him before she died. Harry never finished high school with little education and no skills. He survived with dead-end jobs and street hustling. He got into trouble a lot and got locked up once. Harry easily became a product of his environment.

One day while shopping outside of Detroit, at a shopping center called Eastland mall, Harry observed an older couple walking together. He said to himself, That man looks a lot like an older version of my father. He took a quick look at the picture in his wallet. Harry followed the couple around the mall as they shopped. He daydreamed and wondered how it would have been if he would have had his dad in his life. Harry followed the couple for over an hour. The man noticed him following and watching them, so he walked right up to Harry and said, How can I help you?

Harry said, I’m sorry I didn’t mean to stare, but you look so much like my father.

The man said, Well, what’s your father’s name? Maybe I know him.

Harry took out his wallet so fast that he dropped all the pictures on the floor. He showed him two pictures of his father and said, See, he looks like a younger version of you!

The man stared at the pictures and looked at Harry and said, Of course he should, he was my baby brother. With tears were falling from their eyes, the man asked, Who are you?

Harry said, This man was my father. They stood looking at each other with tears falling on their cheeks.

The man said, I was away in college when your father was killed. We heard about you and your mother, but we did not know anything else about her. We only met you two once. She moved away after the funeral. Your other uncles and I tried to find her on the Internet and we went around her old neighborhood, but we only knew your mother’s first name. We did not know her last name. We couldn’t find her!

Harry replied, My mother died two years ago, but she gave me my father’s last name.

His uncle said, I’m sorry to hear about the loss of your mother, but you still have a family. You have a grandfather and grandmother, two uncles, and three aunts. Plus, you have a lot of cousins. Some are a little older, but most are about your age. You’re not alone.

Harry was so excited; he had an anxiety attack. His uncle understood what was happening to Harry because his father used to have these attacks too. He was able to calm Harry down.

He asked, Are you all right?

Harry said, I’m sorry.

His uncle said, Why? You’ll be all right.

Harry cried, I let my mother down and my father’s memories.

His uncle replied, What do you mean?

Harry explained, I wasn’t always listening to her when she talked about my father and about staying in school. I feel ashamed. I am twenty-one years old and did not finish high school. I feel like I wasted my life.

His uncle laughed and said, You are only twenty-one, you are still young. Your father got his first degree the same year he was killed in that terrible car accident. You’re with your uncle and family. We’ll sit down and talk more about your education later, but now let’s go get something to eat. My treat!

Remember

A life driven without plans and goals is like a life driven right off the road.

Proverbs 15:20, A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despises his mother.

What would you do?

A Pagan Christian Tradition

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