I wrote about my life and all that I have had to go through. I also ended that story with a little bit about how my life has since changed, but I want to take it further. I want you to see me how I was then and how I am now. Am I changed much? Yes, I am no longer the person who went through all those things.
You may look at me and think, "man I feel sorry for that person" or at least think, "that person went through a lot". Yes, I did but I am grateful for those things. Now you are probably thinking, grateful?? How can you be grateful??
Well, I am, simply because it made me who I am today. You see I was never alone in my life. You are not alone in your life. I can prove it to you and by the end of this you will see. I always had faith in something bigger than this world, bigger than me and the people in it.
I had a belief in God. God always had his hand on me. Through every situation and disappointment I would start to turn away. I would look at people as if they didn't exist so to speak. I looked at everyone as having an agenda and having a plan to break me. To break me down, to break my heart. I was alone, I wanted to be.
If the world was like it was I wanted no part of it, I only wanted to exist without being bothered and being counted on. The people I met, I paid no mind to. I could say, "yes, you want to be my friend, but why"?? "What is it I have to give you to make you stay my friend"??
Why did I really think that way though? Because I was unworthy. I had been hurt so much throughout my life, I really felt I was unworthy to be loved. It wasn't an easy journey. I thought I must be the most worthless person on the face of the earth. I never once ever tried to kill my self, but I also wondered why. Why did I want to live in a world that absolutely didn't know I existed or even cared about me as a person, other than to take something away from me. I didn't have the courage to kill myself, and why would I do that?? If noone here cared about me than why in the world would I kill myself because God wouldn't either. Doesn't even make sense but that was my logic.
I knew God then, I may have pushed Him away many times but I knew Him. I knew He had a plan for me. I knew that every time I had trouble I my life and this loneliness that never seemed to leave me completely, I knew someone was there. Every time I cried out, I knew someone was listening, why else did I cry out as hard and as loud as I could? I was raised with Christian values and beliefs, it was instilled within me. I wasn't a bad person, I knew that, but I felt like I might as well be, I'm un-loveable. If people can't love you than there has to be something wrong with you right? Wrong God loves you and he loves me. He has been there through every single tear to every single laugh.
My life had come such a long way. Let me tell you about me now. I am now enrolled in college. Yes, I am a student. I am just finishing my 1st semester. I am pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice. I have many friends. I met some of these people through school, and some of them are instructors. I met some outside of school. I have a beautiful, wonderful, amazing son, who is now 7 yrs old. He is healthy and happy, the love of my life, joy of my heart. He makes me so glad to be alive. I have met some wonderful people who have brought much joy into my life and have given me much in love and friendship. I am living in my own home that I care for. I pay for it and I take care of it, it is mine. I am not rich by any means but I am rich in my spirituality and in God, in my Savior Jesus. I have been a mentor to kids of different ages. That is not my job but I have friends and even family who come to me for advice and to talk to their kids if they are in need and in trouble. Yes, I make a difference too, because to some of these kids they feel they have noone, I let them know they always do. I am happy to do it, I love doing it.
I am great friends with my ex-husband and we are both working towards a beautiful relationship with our son. I am renewed in my family situation, nothing in this world like saying, "I forgive you and I mean that". We are all worth being forgiven. We are all worthy of being loved and cared for. We all are. I know if I had noone on this earth that cared about me or loved me, God would. Jesus died for each and every one of us and did so with pure love. In my darkest hours and believe me there were many, I always felt that Presence. I always knew They were with me. I look at the people around me and see the ache in their hearts for something more something to give them hope and set them free. I can tell you it is a prayer and a commitment a way. I have been on my face grateful for the things I have been given, eternal life most importantly. I am so grateful to be alive now. I am grateful for knowing what it is like to not feel love or feel like I was not loveable, but I now know what it is like to feel that in it's purest form, from friends, family, neighbors,& strangers. And I never want to lose that. I won't lose that as long as I have a relationship with The Father and The Son.
I have had many people come to me and ask where do you get your confidence? How can you be so optimistic about life? Because I know my life has purpose. We all have a purpose for being here, trust me it is not to be miserable and unhappy. Noone was put on this earth to be that way. Noone God loves each and every one of else and we are all special to him. Our personal relationship with him is what sustains us in this life. Do I still have problems? Yes, I do. Do people still hurt me, let me down? Yes, they do. But I have that ability, with God, to handle it and see it as not as a thing I go through alone anymore. I can handle anything, I have proven that, have I not? Do I have a right to be bitter and hateful, cold- hearted? No, I don't. That is not my purpose here. I could be, it is a choice. I can be closed off if I feel that way, but where does that get me? Closing yourself off from the world is not a choice for me.
I feel the need to send this out, I feel someone or maybe many, need to know my story and how far I have come. Is your journey as mine was? Do you feel yourself alone and at a loss? Fear not, many are with you, But God is holding you and Jesus is standing beside you. You are never alone in this world, and I shall pray for your comfort. Believe in Him that created you and give your sadness and disappointments to Him. He knows your true heart and knows what you need to be the best you can be.
I have been back and forth between homes, I have been almost homeless a few times. I have had everyone and noone, in my mind. I always had Him He always had me. We are carried through our troubles with faith and desire. The faith in believing that God will always be there. And the desire to know it and see it. I am grateful for all I have been through, all I will have to go through, because I know I am not alone. It makes me stronger and when something happens, it doesn't sway my faith it makes me hold stronger and I will reach out every, single time, to show I am worthy of his love and care and I know in my heart my comfort is only a prayer away.
Believe in your heart it can be the same for you.
Believe in your heart you are someone, because you are. You are very special, to many but especially to the One that matters. God Bless each and every one of you. Thank You, God and Jesus. I know I am nothing without you 'but' I am everything with you in my life.
Thank you, Vaughn Pascal
Please share this with people who need it and people who may want to know the truth. I hope it gives some peace and hope to those in many, different, difficult situations
Our community consists of powerful caretakers. We do a great... Read More
"Welcome to Canada," Ken shouted to me over the roar... Read More
I love to watch people at airports, malls and even... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of November 17,... Read More
To [many] work is not a gratifying opportunity to do... Read More
In Catholic school the nuns used to tell us that... Read More
Waking up one day and realizing your world just isn't... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of December 6,... Read More
Here is the typical life ? typical, though not everybody... Read More
Have you or do you know someone who has been... Read More
Why would we need to examine our lives? What benefit... Read More
How come, as women, we always second-guess ourselves? Are we... Read More
When people talk about enrichment, they are usually thinking of... Read More
It goes without question that any business intending to thrive... Read More
What is passion? Recently after a presentation, I was once... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of September 2,... Read More
The first few hours in this world, when we as... Read More
You have just completed a major work project before the... Read More
Once upon a time, in ancient India, a beggar favored... Read More
Last week we started a five part series on The... Read More
What Inspires You? What motivates you to get up in... Read More
Ju was physically abused as a child. She lived with... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of August 12,... Read More
Ah, the good old "Vulcan nerve pinch", the three-fingered salute,... Read More
A near middle-aged man in one of my last workshops... Read More
How many of you had the experience growing up of... Read More
The outer conditions of a person's life will always be... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of October 7,... Read More
In the moment of completing a thought or action, it... Read More
"It`s life Jim but not as we know it." -SpockIn... Read More
What if there were just two choices you could make... Read More
It was a mild summer day in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina... Read More
I call myself semi-retired. I work at a job that... Read More
How can we enjoy a better lifestyle?'Easy' I hear you... Read More
Have you ever paid for services rendered with a strong... Read More
If you walk up to a stranger in the grocery... Read More
When you have your dream clear in your mind and... Read More
In a recent disaster, a man was asked why he... Read More
Have you stopped to think what your favorite quotes are... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of May 12,... Read More
A good number of my columns deal with finances and... Read More
We have given a lot of thought, paid an indecent... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of August 25,... Read More
There is a Chinese proverb that says, "A journey of... Read More
You've probably heard of the popular saying "It's better to... Read More
Fourteen years ago I was divorced from my second wife,... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of January 5,... Read More
The quest for the ultimate victory.In part one I shared... Read More
I have a question for you.Who are you?This may be... Read More
All you want is a little more.More money, more love,... Read More
In Catholic school the nuns used to tell us that... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of June 2,... Read More
Okay, I am sure that you clicked on this title... Read More
In Corrogue I receive a gift of love.I awake to... Read More
Everything was arranged: once the funeral was over, all were... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of October 27,... Read More
The outer conditions of a person's life will always be... Read More
Here is the typical life ? typical, though not everybody... Read More
Trying to predict stock price movements is necessary, of course.... Read More
Resistance is not a new word, but for many of... Read More
I grew up climbing mountains. Mountains are beautiful and challenging,... Read More
"Some people call the still, small voice insight or intuition?Our... Read More
I have no idea how it started or who launched... Read More
A Word Fitly SpokenA word fitly spoken is like apples... Read More
Yes you got it. You read it correctly. We're not... Read More
Our community consists of powerful caretakers. We do a great... Read More
Inspirational |