I grew up in a home filled with love, stability, and a strong sense of religion. From the age of six sports like softball, basketball, and track became a significant part of my life. My dedication and talent in softball led me to earn a college scholarship to play. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that at the age of 24 I would find myself addicted to methamphetamine. Looking back I realize now that I was chasing the highs I experienced during my softball career. Unfortunately this led me down a dark path. I lost my two children, my marriage, my home, and inflicted immense pain on the people I loved most.
The guilt and shame I felt drove me to use more drugs as a form of self medication. Throughout this period my family never gave up on me, and they continued to pray fervently for my recovery. One night at around 1a.m. my grandma prayed to God to get me off the streets. Within an hour I was pulled over and arrested for the first time. Although I was released on pretrial this time, I found myself arrested two more times along with multiple failed inpatient treatments. Despite these setbacks my family never stopped praying for me.
On my final arrest I met Chaplain Jerry. It was through our conversations and the church services led by him that he opened my heart to God. It had been closed off for so long. Upon my release I began attending church with my family. It was during one of these services that I went forward to the altar, and received the Holy Spirit. With God beside me and the Holy Spirit within me, my life began to change in ways I never thought possible.
Today I have two successful jobs, I am living with my children, and I am on the verge of getting my driver’s license back. None of this would have been possible without God’s grace and the unwavering prayers of my family. I am a living testimony that no matter how far one has fallen, God’s love and redemption are always within reach. My life has been transformed, and I am eternally grateful for the second chance I have been given. Ephesians 1:7 states In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.