Footsteps To Freedom

I watch this young lady. I roll back to the memories when she walked into my life. Black eye, busted lip, legs, neck, shoulders shin, foot, ribs, finger her entire small frame blue, purple, pink and gray. I am taking shots on my camera phone and calling 911 all in one beat. She sits, her eyes rimmed with tears, and she speaks barely above a whisper. “I’m going to wait for the police, wait for the ambulance and go to the hospital and press charges this time.” The police walk her to the ambulance, and she looks back and me and mouths “thank you.” Eight months later I see her, and she has a sheepish smile. I walk towards her and realize she is pregnant. I say, “are you ok, are you happy, safe, and healthy?” She smiles and says, “Yes mam, I work, I don’t do any drugs anymore, I still journal and I still remember so not to forget my life and my baby’s life is most important.” I hug her and place my hand on her growing belly and say a silent prayer for the life that grows inside of her, before she disappears, she says “I still have my material, in a safe place, thank you for not judging me.”

I often wonder how she is doing these days. I pray she continues her journey of healing. We must make up in our own minds that we must change and move forward. Our families and loved ones cannot make that decision for us. No matter how many bruises they see and no matter how many times things go left we must allow people to make their own decisions and pray that they do not perish while waiting.

I am grateful her new life is survivor and not victim. I am grateful for whatever source she used to make a life for herself and unborn child. I am grateful I was able to talk to her and not about her. God granted her favor and mercy to move through the darkness to now live a life of brightness.

We are a flawed community but a favored community. We have our voice back and our love for life and what it has to offer BACK! I saw a quote in my sister’s journal that read “You change for two reasons, because you have learned so much you want to change, or you have been hurt so badly that you have to change…” where will your change come from?