Angel: I was 9 years old, living in Big Spring, West Texas, when I went to Vacation Bible School (VBS) one summer with a friend. My family and bloodline are all Christians, so I stood a fighting chance that one day soon I too would become a child of God.
At VBS, the teacher told us that if we could learn what the Gospels in the Bible were, she would give us some candy and $10. Oh, it was on! I had never actually opened the Holy Bible before. My mama always did—she read to my two younger sisters and me when we were growing up, which was how we were fed our daily bread.
But personally, I was totally lost. I thought, okay, wait, what is the Gospel? What are the books of the Bible? I ran to my friend in a panic and asked her what the Gospels were. She said, “Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.” I was like, “Ummm, okay, that’s it?” She said, “Yes, that’s all!” I thought, oh yeah, I got this. I am about to be the richest, most candy-filled child in the world!
When the teacher asked, “Okay, who wants to go first?” I immediately lifted my hand as fast as I could, and she called on me. I listed off the four Gospels. She smiled big and asked me a follow-up question that I was completely unprepared for: “Who are the four Gospels about?” I stopped dead in my tracks. My smile faded, and I looked to the side. Then, it hit me. I said, “It is about Jesus.” She smiled even bigger and said, “That is exactly right.”
Then she looked at me and asked if I was saved, and if Jesus lived inside my heart. I honestly couldn’t answer her. I felt hot tears run down my cheeks; a deep conviction pierced my soul. I asked her, “What does that mean?” She explained to me that I was a sinner in need of a Savior, and that if I didn’t accept His free gift of salvation, I would perish. I knew right then I wanted Jesus in my heart.
I asked, “Can you help me?” She gladly said yes and asked me a few questions about what it means to be saved by Jesus, which I passed with flying colors. I accepted Jesus that night at VBS and was baptized that Sunday.
He has carried me through the darkness of this life ever since. But, as I got older, I became the Prodigal Daughter. I started living for myself, looking and smelling like the world. God knew how to get my attention, though, and oh boy, did He ever grab it.
I became addicted to drugs, and my habits eventually landed me on the streets. I had nowhere to go. One summer day in Dallas, Texas, I was incredibly sick, broke, and the humidity was absolutely suffocating. I found some shade right beside a grocery store and fell asleep.
When I woke up, watching people walk past me to get to their cars, I decided right then and there that I would give up. I wanted to die. I prayed, “I am sorry Father God, I have failed You in the worst possible way. Please forgive me, and please take me home. I can’t get better. I am so lost right now. I love You, in Jesus’ name, amen.”
I fell asleep again, and this time, I was awakened by an elderly couple. They asked me if I was okay. I looked them both in the eye and said, “I am not okay. I made some bad decisions, and this is the harsh result of my selfish choices.” The elderly lady looked at her husband and sighed. He looked down, then back into my eyes, and said, “There is forgiveness.” He handed me a gospel tract—I knew exactly what it was—and then pulled money out of his wallet. He said, “Here’s the temporary fix, and here’s the permanent fix. I am giving these both to you freely.”
I started crying my eyes out. I shook his hand, hugged his wife, and they asked if I needed a place to stay for the night. I told them no; there was a pressing matter I had to take care of first, and sleep would have to wait. Nodding their heads, they smiled and walked away.
I sat back down in the dirt and turned the tract over. On the back, it said: DO YOU KNOW HIM? Right then, I knew what I had to do. I got up and found a friend who had previously promised to help me if I ever wanted it. All I asked for was a ride home.
On the way there, I cried and cried, praying silently in my mind. I asked for God’s forgiveness and begged Him to help me get to where I needed to be. I asked Him to take over because I simply couldn’t do it anymore. When I finally got to my mom’s house, I was filled with shame and fear, terrified that she would disown me and want nothing to do with me. I asked God for strength and courage to endure whatever was about to happen.
I walked up to the door, waved goodbye to my friend, and knocked while shaking like crazy. My mama opened the door. I looked at her, and she began to cry. I asked her to forgive me, promising that if she took me back, I would fly straight and do better. She looked at me and said, “You are my child. I love you, and absolutely yes, I forgive you.” She embraced me, and I just wept in her arms.
These two moments stand out to me the most in my life. Now, I have been married for almost 15 years, I am clean and no longer on drugs, we have our own home, and we have 8 beautiful kiddos! Truly, I get to tell the world what GOD has DONE for me. Thank you for the chance to share my story for His glory 🙂 Love y’all, and God bless you! 🙂
