The line in don’t stop believin’ – by Journey sums me up pretty accurately, “Just a small town girl born and raised in South Detroit.” Though for me it was more uptown suburbia. I grew up in a God-fearing household with parents who loved and served selflessly. Besides having two diligent parents, I also had three older brothers….needless to say I’m not running short on bodyguards. My childhood was a diverse combination of all things sweet and messy: from Polly-pockets to army men, ballet class to playing football in the front yard. Though there is a large gap between us siblings (my eldest brother being 19 years older) we have still managed to be a close knit family unit and I attribute much of the credit to the fact that we were all homeschooled. I know what you’re thinking…“Oh no, that can’t be good.” Perhaps to your disbelief, I’m actually quite normal… my therapist says so. I acknowledge that my golden childhood makes it appear that my life has been a walk through the park. It was once upon a time, but at the age of eleven my sweet little reality came crashing down. Memorial Day 2011, just after 7:00 p.m., my life changed forever. I lost my gentle giant of a father to a massive heart attack. Soon after we lost him, we also lost our house during the national housing crisis. The fear of being homeless was miraculously abated when unnamed donors came to our rescue so that we could purchase a home, mortgage free, in a little town a few miles away. Because my mother had to now wear both hats of provider and encourager, I then had to be placed into public school; a rude awakening to everything I held familiar. I was quickly labeled “God girl” among a large population of kid atheists which proved to be a more difficult title than I had expected. The trauma of being bullied day in and day out only added to the grief I had buried deep inside. If it wasn’t for the strong foundation that was instilled at me at a young age, the fire would have been too great. In those seemingly eternal two years that I was in public school, my fire and passion for the Lord seemed like a distant memory. There have only been a few times in my life where I have heard the Lord directly talk to me; one of which was in this dark period. I remember sitting on my bathroom floor after getting home from school weeping and lamenting all of my heart and in that moment where I was ready to leave it all behind, I heard a hushed whisper speak, saying, “You are mine, you are chosen.” Sometimes a girl just needs her Father. From that moment on I have never once doubted His grace and abundant vision for my life. I learned at a young age what it is like to suffer for the name of Jesus.
From then on, I began a season of refinement, I entered into a new high school program in which I was dual enrolled in a local Christian college. Where I am now in my third year of University seeking a double major in Social Entrepreneurship and Urban Ministry. This was extremely beneficial to my overall well-being. I have been able to serve not only in my nearby community, but have ventured on short term missions in Haiti, interned in India for two months with an organization my church is partnered with, as well as interned in Mongolia for five months with my Aunt and Uncle’s organization.
In order to get to the mountaintop, you first must go through the valley. I know I have been to the Mountaintop with our Lord and I certainly have been through the valleys, but I have come to realize that it’s on the mountaintop that something transfiguring takes place. It’s on the mountaintop where we get a glimpse of Majesty. The few who climb to their summit are those who behold the real majesty, because they see from heights that others do not; they see further than those who stay in the plains or live in the valleys. Yes, it’s true that God is with us at any depth or height, but it is important that we ascend the mountain so we can capture the vision for our lives. One thing I know for sure is that Satan is out to “kill, steal and destroy” I am living testament to that fact. I believe the first place he aims for is vision. He knows if he can keep us from seeing the eternal picture and our part in it, he can destroy the purpose for which we were designed to fulfill and the real impact we were meant to make in this world. I know that I am His, I know that I am chosen. What an honor that is. I can’t wait for what the Lord has in store as I proceed to walk hand in hand for the race set before me.
