An Introduction

One thing I love about stories is that you get to go back and re-read them. I think that's why I love the physical feel of a book. I don't think I will ever be one to get into the e-reader devices because I love the tangible stories in my hand. I am also addicted to writing in them. Taking my pens and underlining important sentences, words, or amens and wows on some pages. So then when I pick up a book I haven't read in ages I see with my own hand what I loved about it at that time. Sometimes I'll think to myself, Why did I like that part so much? Aw, that's so sweet I used to like that. Wow, I have really grown from that. And then I always find new things to love and underline in a book as I re-read the stories. I know what is going to happen and the details of each character, time, and place and my heart still races, cries, or smiles as wide as the ocean when I go back over the stories, but I can always find something new in them.

But what's even more exciting is re-reading and re-playing the real life stories. Maybe that's why I love to write so much. I am good at expressing myself through words better than the voice and then one day I get to see where I have gone from what I wrote down 2 years, 4 years, or 6 months ago. And of course lessons learned will never cease as we re-read our lives. I have a ton of journals and constantly go back over them and always think how different a person I used to be and who I am now. And when I need encouragement I find places in my life that was harder than it is now, or I remember that I made it through a really tough time before and I can do it again.

So now I want to introduce you to my friend Anneleyce. She is a writer herself, and one of the best poets that I have read. She has a beautiful story, as we all do. I was introduced into her life just about a year ago when she was going through some really tough issues that she couldn't journey alone on and needed someone in her life to mentor and guide her through. Someone thought I would be great to help her out and before you know it we clicked and we wouldn't have believed the story that would unfold just a year later. Ironically, I was dealing with a lot of things myself so even though I was supposed to be helping her, I grew 10 fold in the process as well. We had our valleys together, our questions, and our mountains. For the first time in her life, Anneleyce got to share her testimony and story to a group of people. When I first met her it was like pulling teeth to get her to tell me anything. And yesterday she told me she was so excited to be telling a group of people her story and that when she looks back, she wouldn't have her story written any other way. I might be the only one who really knows to the extent of how joyous it was to hear those words from her.

She is always going to have that moment and those words on that paper to re-live and re-read. No matter how much she knows it herself, she can read about who she was a year ago and who she is today, and 10 years ago she can read about her story she wrote to tell a community yesterday. I love that stories don't have to be forgotten, but forever written down to be told over and over again.

So now I officially introduce you to my beloved sister in Christ (but I also like to think of her as my daughter in Christ) Anneleyce. This is a poem that she wrote about her journey from the past few years, but especially this past year. May you find it as moving and beautiful as I do.

Bound by the chains of depression 

A heart undergoing regression

Bearing the scars of abandonment and shame

I just wanted to hear somebody call my name

I carried the hurt of neglect and abuse

The pain of love that I always seemed to lose

I was used and broken

Bearing wounds that were continually open

Yet there was something stirring in my soul

The call of One who longed to make me whole

He said I will bring beauty from your ashes

I will break open all your hearts latches

For there I will let my love seep in

Restoring your beauty from within

That fear that continually seems to spread

Will cease for I have made your soul alive, no longer dead

He said I will allure you to the field and speak tenderly to you there

I will place a crown of flowers in your hair

He said I long to restore you and help you dance

He welcomed me into a great romance

He told me that there was a joy greater than my sorrow

And that mercy rises with the dawn of tomorrow

He said you are my bride and for you my soul cries out

This is the love that makes my soul shout

I was created for His pleasure

He whispered to me, My love it is your heart that I treasure

He awakened my soul and breathed into me new life

He is a God of justice, setting all things right

He is the strength for the weak

The voice that gives the voiceless speech

He said my Child run into my arms you have been set free

God has created something beautiful out of me

In Him I am a new creation

He has fashioned me into a narrative of restoration

He said my Child I will break every chain

I will heal every scar

For your delight I have hung each and every star

He carried me from overwhelming darkness into  glorious light

He said, for you my love I will always fight

A great Lover and Warrior that is my King

Forever my heart now will sing

The tune of the rescued

The song of the redeemed

The promise of hope for all who believe

In Him I have my home, In Him I put my trust

He is the One who brings beauty out of dust

My orphan soul is no more

For I know the freedom of adoption that is in store

In God my inheritance is found

In my sufferings may His glory resound

He said I love you because I am your Father

My heart is captivated because I AM HIS DAUGHTER!

For more about her story, poems, and to keep up with her blog (which I highly recommend) check it out here