Three little words

First of all, I would like to ask you to please forgive any spelling or grammatical errors I make, seeing as I am attempting to type this from my phone. Second, I would like to tell you about this past week because my life has changed so wonderfully and dramatically. I am at CIY (Christ In Youth) Move which has challenged me and changed me beyond my expectations. I have had a lot of issues with my relationship with my friends, my father and my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, most of which stem from the grand idea of fatherlessness. I don't mean grand as in great, fabulous, cool but rather the hard to imagine idea of fatherlessness. For me, fatherlessness was and is not unusual. Many of the pastors we have heard from throughout the week have mentioned this idea and that fatherlessness leads to many pains including the issues of trust and lost identity. As a young woman, I know that I had and will always struggle with trusting people and my God as they should be trusted and also that I sought my identity in things like my sexuality (not necessarily promiscuity) and boys and material items because my father was not there to teach me how guys should treat me and how I should love God. For a really long time I was bitter and angry towards my dad and I had no idea how to let go of it. After a while it actually became a part of me and defined my actions and reactions. You may be able to relate to this and whether you do or not, you're probably going to think I'm crazy for what I say next. I have forgiven and I have let go and boy was it hard. Not only that, but I've let go of the bitterness I held towards past relationships. Let me tell you, it is freeing. And there are three little words that I'm totally and utterly convinced of after this week: God is real. I'm not one to share my faith and relationship with Him openly, but man I have changed so much for the better in only one week and in my mind there is no there reasonable explanation than Jesus Christ Himself. Can I get an Amen?!

"Bitterness is like drinking the poison and expecting the other person to die"