Aleshia H.

My life growing up wasn’t all a mess, but there were dark days. Days, my biological dad would break in, beat my mom up, but honestly, my mom did a great job at least shielding me. Though I always wondered why he never wanted to see me. My mom raised my sisters and me in church, and we all have a solid foundation. My mom worked a lot, though, and basically being a single mom until I was ten, she had a lot on her plate. I would try to lighten that load as much as possible, which caused no friends, no normal childhood, but literally a child taking on grown-up thoughts and responsibilities. My addiction began around ten or eleven. I started going to my cousin’s because she was older, so I could act older. She was suffering herself. I started drinking and smoking cigarettes and meth. Although I straightened up after two years, almost two decades have gone by, and I am crippled by the drugs again. I know why I used drugs. I sought more time in the day. As long as I could stay moving, I’d do better. Then I figured that in time I would be in a better spot, make more money, and be able to provide and have a better life. So I thought. While here at Home of Hope, I pray that my relationship with God becomes so intimate that I never waver again. I hope to learn meaningful boundaries and know what self-care looks like for me, so I can still do the things I need to do in the world, but also know my worth. Lastly, I pray for restoration and healing, trusting the Lord to restore what the devil thought he stole.