Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Holidays.. My story
by Denise Oliveira
(Houston, Texas)
It is around this Time of year that I look back and reflect on what I have acomplished in my life. The one thing that I am profoundly grateful for is for discovering the forgivness and love of GOD. Through Him I have grown so much. There are not even words to decribe how grateful I truly am. God could have left me long ago but NEVER gave up on me. I am not even worthy of his Love and forgivness. I dont have much "Valuables" and I m not rich. But I do have His Love. The accomplishments I have achieved this year are not scholastic achievments, Job promotions, or anything else materialistic. See, around this time three years ago(2007 to 2008) I was homeless. Actually it started in November. I was Homless untill sometime in January 2008. For Thanksgiving(2007) my children and I shared a double cheese burger from McDonalds. We were staying back and forth at friends and family's houses and in hotels untill we could no longer afford it. We finally ended up staying at the Star Of Hope Shelter where we remained untill Christmas Eve. Our Christmas spirit was dissolved and almost gone because of our situation and the state of mind I was in. That christmas eve my kids and I went to stay with my sister at her request so we would not spend the night with out family. My children were happy with the little presents they did have. Although at this time I did not know the Lord I still had a little faith in me. Never once did I blame the Lord for what was happening to me. I just knew deep down in side that there was a reason For why this was happening. My sister Christine asked me to live with here untill I was able to get back on my feet and so I did. I had stuggled for so long and had been through so much hardship that I thought it would be impossible to get back on my feet and regain what I once had.. a normal life. I will never forget the voices of the children(of the other family I was staying with at the beggining) telling my children that we needed to get out of their house, that this was not OUR house and that we did not have a house because we were homeless( I cry every time I remember this part). But, It has made us stronger. I discovered the Lord on January 12, 2009 (The reason behind my salvation is another story in its self). Right now I live with my mother and my two children. I am not working because of a horrible incident that happened to me. We dont have much BUT we do have a roof over our heads, ( 1 year and 1/2 now)clothing and enough food for my children and our selfs. Glory Be to GOD for that.
The moral of my story is be grateful and Thankful to the Lord for what you do have. Because at any time what we do have and hold near and dear to us, could be taken away at any time.
My eyes have been opened to see that Christmas is not about Santa Clause and getting and recieving Presents. It is about being with family and celebrating the Birth Of our King Jesus. We need to not over look that fact. My kids this year only have 3 presents each that I was able to get them. Because they remember what we went through, I know they have learned the value of Christmas and not holding on to materialistic things. We all have learned to appreciate God and where He has brought us out from. The depressing place we once were to the glorious Blessing he has provided us with.
Merry CHRISTmas to all...I truly hope you have a wonder full time with your families and friends...
I ask that GOD will bless you and your family and touch all of your lives with VICTORY over the enemy and alow you to prosper in every aspect of your Lives...Amen.. and GOD BLESS YOU.....---Denise
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