My Jeep takes off in 3rd gear?

95 Jeep gr Cherokee, Loredo 4X4. 4.0. A/T. Start the car, It may only take off in 3rd when I put it in drive. It will downshift into 2nd, and it also will not go into overdrive. Shut it off, re-start it 2-6 times it will finally take off in 1st and run/shift just fine after that including overdrive. Never know when. Help... I don't have $1300.00 for transmission