I was born into a very dysfunctional family. I was
one of four girls and one boy. My father was an
abusive alcoholic who belittled and beat my mother
almost every day.

He also physically, mentally, and sexually abused me
along with two of my sisters.

When I was 13 years old, I got involved in drugs and
alcohol.

I tried to commit suicide several times because of the
deep shame and guilt that I felt. I hated myself and
my life...I was headed nowhere fast.

I had no use for God or the Bible. If there really
was a God, how could He possibly let little children
suffer the way that me and my siblings did?

When I was 24, a wonderful man came into my life. We
were married and had two beautiful children...a boy
and a girl.

My mother-in-law began taking them to church when they
were very little. They loved it, and would come home
bursting with excitement and telling me and their dad
all about what they had done in Sunday School. They
would end this by saying, "Mama, I wish you and Daddy
would come with us sometime."

After my mother-in-law passed away, it was left to me
and my husband to take the kids to church. So, every
Sunday, we would take them and drop them off.

Then, one day, we decided to go with them. I guess we
just got so tired of them bugging us about it! We
figured that if we went, maybe they would leave us
alone!

To make a long story short...we became Christians
shortly after that. We attend church services with
our children every Sunday, and I teach the youth
Sunday school class.

Our children are 17 and 15 years old, and we all enjoy
sitting together during the services.

I have forgiven my father for everything, and I feel
that the things that I went through in my childhood
have made me the compassionate, loving person that I
am today.

I realize now that God never left my side, He was
always there holding me close to Him!


God bless you,
Vickey Carwile