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by Sandra GerardDo you need hope? Please email us your concerns
I am a Native North American woman. I was abandoned at the age of four, with five other siblings, in a hotel in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. My parents were on a drinking spree. They were alcoholics and had left my oldest brother, who was seven years old, to care for us. The police and the welfare people stepped in and apprehended us to permanent custody.
We were taken from our parents, then separated from one another to live in various foster homes. I endured sexual, emotional, verbal and physical abuse. I had lost everything dear to me. I desired love and acceptance, but found none.
No place to call home
They placed me in an institution for juvenile delinquents, but I was kicked out on my fifteenth birthday. The street became my home. I tried drugs of all sorts from sniffing glue, paint thinner, hair spray and drinking vanilla, to graduating to street drugs such as acid and alcohol. I was hospitalized countless times trying to take my own life. I had three boys from one abusive relationship. My fourth son came into the world sick because of my addictions. He survived to be a healthy, strong baby, but my children were taken from me because of my lifestyle, and neglect and abuse. I got clean and sober from the drugs and alcohol and I fought to get my children back for close to three years. After I got them back, though, I returned to my former life style.
Finally, I stopped drinking for the sake of my children. Yet I was still unhealthy. I had no hope, only misery living a day to day existence, and nothing more.
My four oldest children went to a church near our home. I believed it was the lure of the cookies and cakes that got them. They went every Sunday. I didn't care as it gave me some time to myself. They didn't give me any difficulty for not going to church. God wasn't real to me, and even if He was, He wasn't for me.
Finally the children tricked me into going, and I went reluctantly. My oldest son led me through a prayer, at the age of eight years old, with his other siblings by his side. I was desperate and I needed something. I didn't have much feeling, but I wanted to finally believe. So I said, "If you are real, God, come into my heart."
After saying the prayer, my life started to change bit by bit.
I have been a Christian for about twelve years. I still don't have it all together. I have been healed of many deep wounds in my life and no longer do I use drugs or alcohol. It is a day to day walk, reading God's Word, the Bible, and applying it to my life.
My life is so much different now. I have joy and hope and a place waiting for me in heaven because of Jesus Christ. No matter what comes into my life, God is with me.
Many of you are looking for your purpose in life or looking for love and acceptance like I was. You have tried many things only to come away more emptied, or more hurt. Don't forget to try Jesus Christ. He will be the best decision that you have ever made in your life. Just come the way you are--He has seen everything you have ever done, said or thought. Yes, everything. He loves you and paid a price being nailed to a cross for our sins, because of His great love for us. You cannot earn it by good works, or buy it. Just accept His free gift of love for you.
Take a look at your life. How would you describe it? Contented? Rushed? Exciting? Stressful? Moving forward? Holding back? For many of us it’s all of the above at times. There are things we dream of doing one day, there are things we wish we could forget. In the Bible, it says that Jesus came to make all things new. What would your life look like if you could start over with a clean slate?
Living with hope
If you are looking for peace, there is a way to balance your life. No one can be perfect, or have a perfect life. But every one of us has the opportunity to experience perfect grace through a personal relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ.
You can receive Christ right now by faith through prayer. Praying is simply talking to God. God knows your heart and is not so concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart. Here's a suggested prayer:
Lord Jesus, I want to know you personally. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life to you and ask you to come in as my Savior and Lord. Take control of my life. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Make me the kind of person you want me to be.
Does this prayer express the desire of your heart? You can pray it right now, and Jesus Christ will come into your life, just as He promised.
Is this the life for you?
If you invited Christ into your life, thank God often that He is in your life, that He will never leave you and that you have eternal life. As you learn more about your relationship with God, and how much He loves you, you'll experience life to the fullest.
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