Although none of us will ever know the full impact of her actions, one woman changed mine and my son’s lives forever.  She allowed her compassion to guide her actions and God to work through her. 

When I was lost, hopeless and completely alone as no one should ever be, she gave sincere thought to my need, and asked me to visit her at Gateway Church.  I found Christ there.  I found answers and strength, and hope and very often, refuge.

When my child and I were abused and threatened, living in fear of what each day might bring, she helped us to find resources to sustain, educate and empower me to change our lives.  She gave us places to be when we needed to escape from violence, rage, alcoholism and devastating neglect and emotional abuse.  She gave me a car, to help me protect myself and my son, in case we need to flee.  She provided a room in her own home, among her family, if we needed a safe place.  Not only that, but she found a local school and paid my son's tuition to get him out of this environment during the daytime hours, and to start the legal process for custodianship.

When I lacked courage and hope, she supported me patiently as Christ changed my heart and I found strength, one small step at a time. And after 14 months, my 2 year old son and I moved into our new home.... and our new lives.  Her compassion did not stop there.  She continues to share love and hope with us as she makes every effort to help us recover and find balance in the new life that we have.That she came with her own resources to help us and enabled me to change our lives was a Blessing beyond words... but the most important thing that she carries with her is compassion and love and a willingness to serve the real need and see it all the way through, and not just for me, she serves so many in so many ways.

After a life of neglect and abuse from a parent and then a spouse, this woman ended that legacy for me and my son. My life is changed forever.... more importantly, so is my son's.  Where would his life have led to, and where will it lead now?  So too, are changed, the lives of all those that we will touch from this point forward.  It ripples.

My next steps... to give back the compassion and love.  To raise my son well.  To actively engage in activities to support and mentor young women in hope of saving and restoring their lives.

Let me end by telling you that this woman really did not know me as a dear friend for whom she performed her acts of love, although our relationship has bloomed into a beautiful friendship.  We had worked together, at a distance and had a mutual respect for one another.  And for some reason, which I believe was God’s intervention, two years ago, on February 26, 2006, I called her from 1600 miles away in a moment of utter despair, and at that moment, she made a choice and acted on it.