The journey to finding God is different for every one of us. It doesn't matter who you call God. He calls on us to serve, to love unconditionally. I am a survivor because God chose me to be. I learned to find peace in the storm. My journey does not look like yours, yet when I was willing to stand still, I could find peace because God found me right where I was.

How many times have we all asked, "Why me?" at one time or another in our lives? Many years ago, after sharing my story with a trusted friend, she commented, "That's a lot." I replied, "It is, and what I don't understand is, why me?" Her response has helped me through some of the darkest days of my life. She said, "Why not you? God has a plan for you."

Putting all of it in a book for the world to read was not my plan; it was God's.

I have shared my story with many others over the years, and every time at least one person comes to me afterward and tells me how my story has inspired them to keep moving forward. So before I speak, I pray that one person will hear something in my account to give them a little hope, a spark to make a decision, or encourage them not to give up. I have done my work well if my story saves one person from the darkness and hopelessness of abuse, violence, fear, shame, defeat, or addiction.