Kaitlyn’s Story

Although I probably didn’t realize it at the time, I needed Christ more than ever when I was young. I grew up in a broken family with fights, verbal and emotional abuse abounding.

Even more so, I lived under the premise that I was supposed to show an outward perfection. I found comfort in my own ability to guard others from seeing the real me, the broken, confused and suffering child.

Despite my best efforts, I could not hide this confusion and suffering from myself. At the end of the day, I still needed comfort, comfort that I could not find at home or with other people.

Needless to say, God lifted me out of this tangled mess of confusion one wonderful day when my mom asked me during one of our nightly read-aloud sessions if I had ever asked Christ into my heart.

I had heard about Christ countless times in church, Sunday school and Vacation Bible school, but I had never given a thought about the truth of it: He could really heal my hurt, and He could quite literally save my life!

My struggles before receiving Christ were less of being stubborn (I still struggle with that at times) and more of grasping the reality of asking the Savior of the universe to enter my heart and take control of my life. Instead, I was just a little girl with an open mind and an open heart.

Everything didn’t get better after I received Christ. I still lived in the same loving yet painful home, I still struggled with how I was supposed to express the pain and I still struggled with the vast reality of God. But now, I was not alone. God was with me, loving and guiding me, ever teaching me about Himself, His love and His plan for my life.

After I received Christ, I began to see changes in my life. I began to love others–not in a lovey-dovey way, but in a respectful, caring way. I began to look at life from more than one perspective. Little by little, I began to see the world through God’s eyes.

Besides just loving people, I really began to see my parents as Christians trying to find their way through this tangled mess of life. I began to see those who made fun of me or who just plain didn’t like me as God’s children, just like me, all equal under the same loving Father. I began to really care for everyone, not just the people who were nice to me too.

This lifestyle has stayed with me throughout my life, just as God has stayed with me and never left me. Even through really tough times, such as a divorce in the family or getting hit by a semi two days before Christmas, I’ve felt this inner strength provided by God and an inner love for those who others would say have “wronged” me. Through God, I have been able to keep this peace and love, and that makes me truly happy.