Into the Fire

I smoked for ten years and started with Cigarillos, went to Virginia Slims, and graduated with honors to Winstons. At one time a friend and I sampled just about every cigarette known to man at the time just for “fun”. Some of them were downright wretched. Dumb, I know.

My husband started smoking when he was nine years old. He smoked Camel Straights for years and years. When he got saved, the Lord delivered him from smoking one morning just as he was about to light one up. Just like that, it was over. The Lord still delivers people.

My brother has been smoking for most of his life and now suffers the effects of that habit. He’s tried everything to quit, but it’s very, very hard for him.

Every now and then the whiff of cigarette smoke smells good to me. Not the kind that fills a room or sticks to your clothes, hair, towels, upholstery. Just a whiff.

If you want to know the ugly truth, I started smoking so I could learn to inhale marijuana. It took me a long time before I even considered doing drugs. Like with everything I do, when I made up my mind, I dove right in. Not proud of it. Not at all. For ten years I did just about everything I knew was wrong. Then I met Jesus, and he righted my weary soul.

Thank you, Jesus. I love you.