05/14/2024
Allow my life to be a testimony that parents can trust God with their children and teens.
I was raised with knowledge of the Lord but didn't fully embrace it, only being a churchgoer. I desired the world and rebelled against all authority, leading to a stint in jail as a teenager. Before I left home, my mom entrusted me to God, which terrified me. Little did I know, she understood something profound: before she was my mother, I was first God's child.
Despite my rebellion, people consistently reached out to me with messages of repentance, hope and Gods love on the street prophesying. It wasn't until I experienced the overwhelming love of God that I desired a holy life. Despite my past, I later realized God still loved me and desired the best for my life. I became deeply grateful for His grace and transformation and I wanted to follow him willingly because of it.
I learned that even as a teen you can't escape God's love, as He sends people to reach you wherever you are. A chaplain and a security guard ministered the gospel of grace just by the way they treated me while I was in jail. And I wondered why they were speaking good things and granting me favor and access to write a letter to the judge to appeal my case. I wondered why me? I deserve this. I even felt like if I’m not in here I’m just NOT gonna do right. I felt such guilt and shame behind my actions but they cut my time short. I never wanted to tell people because I thought they’d look at me different. That WAS my life and if I can help an at-risk teen with prevention, I see this is why I made it out and experienced love even during one of the worst decisions I could have ever made.
"So now I understand, kids aren’t just BAD; they’re oftentimes misguided, and my purpose is to help where I’m needed by just showing that same support to those who may have felt just like me. There’s always a reason why. However, whatever the reason, God's grace is sufficient. He did it for my praying mother and keeps me on the right path today ❤️."
