Email 
Bookmark 
Print Hope and a Future
by Sandra GerardI 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.
They placed me in an institution for juvenile delinquents, but I was kicked out on my fifteenth birthday. The street life 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 not arrived nor will I in this lifetime. I have been healed of many deep wounds in my life and been delivered of drugs and 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.
God wants to be our leverage in living, empowering us to feel better about ourselves, more excited about our future, more grateful for those we love and more enthusiastic about our faith.
If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, God has given you His Holy Spirit to help you live life according to His perfect plan. Why not pray this simple prayer and by faith invite Him to fill you with His Spirit:
Dear Father, I need you. I acknowledge that I have sinned against you by directing my own life. I thank You that You have forgiven my sins through Christ's death on the cross for me. I now invite Christ to again take His place on the throne of my life. Fill me with the Holy Spirit as You commanded me to be filled, and as You promised in Your Word that You would do if I asked in faith. I pray this in the name of Jesus. As an expression of my faith, I thank You for directing my life and for filling me with the Holy Spirit. Amen.
