Today what is shared is the true story; that of a friend; but no names will be disclosed.
I look at myself in the mirror, and I see beautiful for that is who I am. I am beautiful, I am loved by God and when I see what His heart is like is for me, I know that my future can only hold good things for I-the beautiful girl I am-know that I belong to God and I have found the place where I am always welcome; the house of my Father. And with great relief I look at my past for I know I do not live there anymore, and with great expectation I look at my future for it is a future that is in the hands of a good God.
Yes, I have a past-one that I do not find pleasant to talk about especially in the context of the judgment I have often been recipient of in many a church of all places and the weight of the condemnation that I have had to bear from all sectors of society but in spite of all this, for the sake of that individual who shall be helped by the work that God has done in my life I shall share the bit that I can.
Yes I have a past; I have a past in which many times over I did it all-I smoked weed, I took alcohol and many a time I slept with a guy-Not just one guy, not just my boyfriend and not just my age but never for a moment for money. Yes, I have such a record in my past; and do not think for a moment I was forced but rather I chose how I was to live and I can tell you the extenuating circumstances that led me to choose the life I led then but that would be a distraction-what I want you to know is I have a past. Yes I grew up with the right kind of knowledge as to why and how to behave, but I threw it aside-yes I tossed it all aside and I became my own master-without a care for anyone else but myself and that is how I chose to live.
Yes, I have all this and more in the record that History has of me but thank God for His love that pursued me out of that place and has brought me to this place where I know I am forgiven, where I am not condemned by God and where I have the freedom to be His daughter.