TRACY | Although I grew up in a Christian home, by 17 I was dating and living an ungodly lifestyle.
At 19 I had two small babies that I started raising as a single parent. My children were gifts from God, and I worked and did the best that I could for them. At 28 I met another man and we ended up living together for the next 12 years. One night we tried crack cocaine with a couple of friends in our home. My boyfriend never wanted to try it again. I got hooked.
I hated that I was addicted to this drug, and that it made me unreliable, untrustworthy and even unlovable. I wanted to be the best mom, sister, daughter, girlfriend and employee that I could be, and prove that I was a good person. Over the years I tried to find answers, but cocaine was taking my life away. Last November my boyfriend had had enough. We sold our house and my children went to live with him. I was on my own. Three months later I lost my job. I was broken and needed to choose life or death. My mother heard from someone who had been through the Teen Challenge program and changed his life. I applied to the women’s program and was accepted.
One month into the program God grabbed a hold of my heart during a church service and my doubts and fears evaporated. Two days later I rededicated my heart to Christ and my peace and hope was restored. I am starting to look forward to what the future holds for me, with God’s help.
Lord my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me. You, Lord, brought me up from the realm of the dead; you spared me from going down to the pit. Psalm 30:2-3