FROM DARK TO LIGHT

by HILDA M. NAJDA (SANTIAGO)
(UTICA, NY)

IN MY LIFE I HAVE SPENT MAJORITY OF MY TIME LOST IN A PLACE THAT WAS SO DARK, COLD, AND LONELY. I HAVE BEEN HURT ALOT IN MY LIFE. I NEVER EXPERIENCED ANY SORT OF WHAT LOVE MEANT. I HAD FALLEN DEEP INTO A PIT AND WOULD CRAWL OUT, BUT THEN END UP THERE OVER AND OVER AGAIN. CRYING, TIRED, HOPELESS, NO SELF WORTH- I FINALLY HAD GIVIN UP. I FELT THERE WAS NOTHING GOOD LEFT OF MYSELF. I HAD FALLEN SO FAR INTO THAT PIT THAT I JUST TOTALLY REALIZED THAT I COULDN'T GO ON LIVING ANYMORE. THROUGHOUT MY WHOLE LIFE OF STRUGGLES AND HAVING NO DIRECTION, I REMEMBER ALWAYS PRAYING. MY PRAYER BEING SOMETIMES SHORT AND QUICK, I DID ALWAYS PRAY. I BELIEVE THAT THE GOOD LORD HAD BEEN LISTENING TO ME THE WHOLE TIME. HE HAD SEEN ME AT THE BOTTOM OF ALL BOTTOMS AND HE CAME TO ME. AS I SAT IN THAT PIT BROKEN, I CRIED " PLEASE SAVE ME GOD"? I FELT THAT AT THAT VERY MOMENT, GOD HAD REACHED HIS BEAUTIFUL HAND TO ME AND I TOOK IT. GOD HELPED ME CLIMB OUT OF THAT NASTY PIT.

SINCE THEN, GOD HAS BLESSED ME WITH STRENGTH, HOPE, LOVE, AND A BEAUTIFUL LIFE THAT I NEVER BEFORE THOUGHT I COULD HAVE. WITH A LOT OF WORK ON MYSELF AND HAVING TO FACE A LOT OF MY PAST, I LOVE LIVING MY LIFE NOW. MOST OF ALL, MY RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IS STRONGER THAN EVER AND WITHOUT HIM, I CANNOT FACE LIFE. DON'T GET ME WRONG, I STILL THOSE DAYS THAT SOMETIMES I DON'T WANT TO GET OUT OF BED. SOMETIMES I THINK..."WHAT'S THE POINT", BUT THEN I DROP TO MY KNEES AND PRAY FOR STRENGTH. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I RECEIVE IT. MY WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT ARE- NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU'VE GONE THROUGH OR STILL GO THROUGH, DON'T QUIT.

GETTING BACK UP BUILDS CHARACTER. DON'T LET ANYONE OR ANYTHING KEEP YOU DOWN...YOU'RE STRONGER AND BETTER THAN THAT. I TRULY HOPE THIS CAN AND DOES HELP SOMEONE. GOD BLESS YOU.