There is a man in Ohio that should hate me.
That’s a pretty harsh statement isn’t it?
But it’s truth. Take Jesus and forgiveness and grace aside and he has every right to hate me, to despise me.
In my story there are two people that God put in my life to save me in a sense; to turn my life upside down and show me that The Lord loves me and wants to see me shine.
One was Kasey, the other is a man named Donny Paden.
‘You’ve been charged.’
I found out via a news reporter that called my cell phone that I had been charged in the accident I caused three months prior.
My heart sank. My lawyer told me the prosecution wanted to charge me with numerous felonies. Somehow the Lord was working in this terrible situation and after a few months in court I accepted a plea. I spent nine days in jail and did 100 hours of community service among other things.
But the pain and torture didn’t end. I hated myself knowing what I did. Nothing the courts could do or anything anyone could tell me would compare to the torment I put myself through. I carried that guilt and shame around every minute of the day. I didn’t want to show my face around town. However, one sentence spoken to me my last day in court kept me going, fighting to survive.
The year after I was in court I went to Costa Rica. There was also a lady there named Sally. She was so cool. She just looked like someone you would want to know, she was legit. I soon found out she was a Sargent in the Columbus Police Department. My first thought was ‘well shit, now I can’t talk to her anymore.’ But God had different plans. He pushed me to talk to her. I fought it but then one day I went to get a smoothie and go figure there is not another soul around expect for Sally sitting at a table reading a book.
I shared my story and told her what had happened that last day in court, after I had entered the plea. She asked if I remembered the name of the officer.
I did.
‘His name was Officer Paden.’ Her eyes lit up and she said ‘Donny Paden?! He’s the greatest!” I couldn’t believe it…really God..you send me all the way to Costa Rica and this is what happens?! I had been praying that somehow I would be able to apologize and ask forgiveness for what I did. And He laid Sally in my path, an answer to my prayers.
This part of my story had finally come full circle.
The thing is, God had been with me the entire time. In the end everything came back to show how all the glory goes up to Him and how He sends His blessings to fall down on me.
But lets back up to that last day in court.
When we were leaving the courtroom I asked my lawyer if I could talk to the officer. He was the first responding officer on the scene. At first glance he looked at me like I was crazy, but he could tell my heart needed it. He called the officer over. All I wanted to say was I’m sorry, that I knew nothing I can do or say will take back what I did, all I wanted to say was how terribly sorry I was for all of the hurt and pain I had caused.
I opened my mouth and nothing but hysterical crying came out.
What happened next turned my world upside down. This man chose to be the hands and feet of Jesus that day. He chose to show me what Jesus is all about, forgiveness and grace.
Officer Paden took a step forward, put his arm around me, walked me over to my parents and spoke one sentence that changed my life forever.
“I don’t know if you have Jesus in your heart, but I do. He’s already forgiven you and it’s time you forgive yourself.”
