How God gave me grace through darkness..

by Lisa L. Reeves
(Forrest City, Arkansas)

Hi! My name is Lisa Reeves, and my life took a drastic change when my 55 year old father died on February 6, 2006. Even though I was married I lived in the family home to help my mother take care of my elderly grandparents/ One was 80 and the other 79 suffering with late stage althzimers. We also ran our business out of our home which was a photography/video business.

I did everything I could to help my mother get through the loss of my dad. They had met in church when they were 12. And married in 1971. I made funeral plans and phone calls and did everything just so she wouldn't have to. Anything to get her through it.

On February 13, 2007 in the early morning hours my husband broke into my family home totally out of control. I had never seen him this way and I had known him since I was 4. He began beating and choking me till I was convinced he was gonna kill me. At that point I yelled for my mother. She got up and came to where we were and told Randy that if he didn't leave she would call the police. He told her to go ahead and call them.

All the time he was cussing and acting out of control. Before we got to the phone he attacked me again. My mom tried to stop him and then he started beating her. That is when I jumped him and got him off her long enough for her to get away.

He turned and hit me so hard that it knocked me down, but I got up and followed him to where she was at. I noticed him taking something out of his pocket and it turned out to be a gun and in an instant he shot and killed her.

I then ran to my grandparents room hoping to protect them some way. I heard him chasing me down the hall and as soon as I got to there door and got in he started beating on it. All I could think about was getting help for my mama.

Finally the beating on the door stopped and I opened it just a crack, but something told me to close it. At that point my grandpa was up and I told him Randy shot mama. All he said was no he didn't.

I then told my grandpa that I had to go next door and get my brother Travis for help and call 911. I told him to keep the door locked and make him bust it down. I went out the window and told him I would be right back. I had promised him that I would be right back.

Once over at my brothers Travis got his gun and I called 911 and they told me to go outside to see if Randy's truck was still there. Travis went out back and I went out front. Travis was now at the fence line that separated our yards.

As I looked to my left I noticed something that turned out to be Randy. And at that point a 35 minute gun battle ensued between my brother and Randy. Travis yelled for me to get back in the house and if Randy came in shoot him.

It ended with my brother being shot ten times, Randy fleeing to Laredo, Texas where has was caught 24 hours later and my mother and grandparents all three shot in the head.

Since then I have lost my business, my home and at times have lived in my truck. My life has been destroyed. I'm financially ruined because of all this and my family has no idea how to get over this. Right now I'm living with my attorney and his wife. This was the first triple homicide that ever happened in our small town.

I have truly forgiven Randy. It was God's grace that has given me the peace and forgiveness that I needed. My goal is to help others that have been through a tragedy like this. And let them know that even though life will never be the same. You can still find joy in the middle of the storm.

I'm also trying to help Randy get through this. I believe that is my Christian duty to do this. God allowed me to no longer see people through the eyes of the flesh, but to see them through the eyes of the spirit. I realized that he was a lost and broken soul that needed prayer and forgiveness.




Thank you and God Bless,