I No Longer Lack..

My name is April; well I’m using my niece name for many reasons. Anyway, I grew up poor, but now I have more than most. I grew up on food stamps. We still did not have much to eat majority of the time, because we would eat all the food the first two weeks of the month.  My two brothers and father would eat until everything was gone. I would take the food I wanted and hide it in order to eat. We always lacked in something; if it was not food it was something like toothpaste, tissue, or paper for school. I never seemed to have what others had around me. I could not play sports or be involved in band because we could not afford the uniforms or instrument. I hated my life because of not having money.

Thank goodness I was smart in school. I did very well in school, which helped me get a scholarship in order to go to college. The first year of college was hard for me because I looked different and smell terrible according to other people. I had no idea how bad I looked until I entered college. The girls had very nice clothes and they smell better than my cheap soap I used to wash with every other day. I did not know people took showers everyday. My parents only encouraged us to shower at least two times a week to prevent from using a lot of water. People called me “Musky” in college my first two semesters. Two of my roommates moved out of my dorm room because they stated they could not managed the smell. My third roommate did not leave me, but talked to me about how to take care of myself. I never met someone so nice; she really cared for my wellbeing.

One Thanksgiving she invited me to come home with her to meet her family. Her parents paid for my plane ticket and were very kind. I never had been in a house that big before in my life. It had five bedrooms, their kitchen was enormous, and the door nobs were so beautiful. My friend would always say, “There is nothing like Orange County!” She was right that place was beautiful and I knew one day I would move there to live. Her parents bought me clothes to wear to church. This was my first time having a dress and shoes cost more than $10.00 and not from Goodwill. This was also my first time ever going to church. My father would say God doesn’t answer prayers. He claimed that he prayed for years for God to help him take care of our family, but nothing happened. So he gave up on God.  We never went to church or prayed about anything.  However, the people at the church did not look poor so I quickly knew my father was incorrect about God not answering prayers.  They appeared to be happy. I left there feeling like there was hope for me. I did not always have to be poor and hate my life.

I talked to my friend’s parents about what I was feeling and how I want to change my life and be happy with my life. Her father told me his story of how he was very depressed and he had money. He explained how money does not make people happy or give the hope we need. Her mother told her story how she needed more than money in order to experience value and true love. I did not understand them then because I felt having money would be different for me because I never had it.

Well, fifteen years later I realized what my dear friend parents were taking about. I married a man who was very wealthy. He treated me nice, I had more than enough to spend, but deep within I still was not happy. I remember taking a shower and the stories of my friend’s parents came to me. I called her soon as I got out the shower, but her husband answered her phone to my surprise. He informed me they were in the hospital because she just had twin boys. I heard her mother talking in the background and I asked him if I could speak with her. Her mother introduced me to Jesus Christ. I repented of my sins and asked Him to be my Lord and Savior on that phone call. My life has not been the same. I thought money would be the key, but having a relationship with God was what I needed all the time. I no longer feel like I’m lacking in anything.

Thanks for reading my story