A few years ago, I started therapy, specifically designed for people with trauma. It was incredibly helpful for me; it truly helped me understand the pain from my past and how it was affecting me at that time. I remember that a few months into our sessions, my therapist said something I will never forget:
“Dean, with the amount of trauma you experienced as a child, not to mention in the past few years, it is a miracle you are able to function as an adult. Most people who have endured even half of this trauma would struggle to cope.”
I looked at her through my tears and responded, “I attribute all of that to God. He embraced me when I was so broken and brought me into the shelter of His arms.”
This statement remains fresh in my mind, and I keep it there intentionally. I never want to forget that while I may be damaged, I’m not broken. God has made a way for me to be where I am today—no, not perfect, but certainly much farther than I ever thought I could be!
As a child, I experienced abuse in every conceivable form. Describing my upbringing as coming from a broken home barely scratches the surface. My mother was married nine times and had countless boyfriends, while both of my parents struggled with severe drug and alcohol addictions. We moved more frequently than there were schools in our district; in fact, the only reason I attended the same school more than once was that we couldn't afford to live on the "good side of town."
I don’t share my past to seek sympathy; I share it to emphasize that when I say God performed a miracle in my life, those words barely capture its significance.
Today, I stand here, scarred but still standing. I refuse to let the enemy claim victory. I will continue to fight and work diligently to break free from the lies of my past, demonstrating that there is a better path forward, no matter how challenging it may be.
Addiction may have stolen my past, but I won’t let it get anywhere near my future!
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