I grew up in a Christian home. God blessed me with a husband that loves the Lord and a beautiful son. Like many Christians, we allowed compromise and sin to creep in and it tore my life apart. I left our church, and my husband and I separated. As our son got closer to kindergarten, we filed for divorce. Because I was raised in church and he was not, I pridefully believed I knew more than him and I failed to yield to him. I was the wife Proverbs warned of. I had no respect for life. I remember signing the divorce papers and turning to him and shaking his hand with a smile on my face, saying, “nice doing business with you.” My heart was breaking but society teaches us that this is normal.
After the divorce, my life fell apart. I did not handle being in a “social world” very well, so I started using hard drugs. By 2014 (only 2 years later), I was using crystal meth around the clock. I was arrested on 4 charges, and released on a cash bond after serving 23 days. I went directly back to the needle. Three months later, I skipped my final sentencing so that I could go cook several “batches” of meth. I burned myself that night. I was arrested again 2 months later and caught 6 more charges, for both meth and heroin, and sentenced to 8 years in prison.
I had served a state year when God opened a door for me to come to Teen Challenge of the Upper Cumberland, and for months I refused to go. God soon softened my heart and I contacted the campus here is Livingston. When I walked onto this Holy Ground—every part of me was rattled to my core. God has delivered me from anxiety, depression, addiction, grief, pride, arrogance, and religion. John 8:36,” Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” Every day I wake up and my focus is on faith and love. I am learning how to let God have the control in my life. I am learning how to talk to people. I am finding so much freedom in letting go. 1 John 4:7-8 says, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”