I was so afraid to tell my story but over the past 20 months of writing I have been shocked at people’s encouragement and responses. 

“Your’e so brave. You’re vulnerability is inspiring.” 

I don’t feel brave. I’m in a sword fight with a pool noodle. I feel over exposed and under prepared. And vulnerable! In a world where nothing is sacrosanct I am walking an imaginary tight rope between honesty and the Kardashian overshare.

I keep writing because its the kind of writing I would have loved to hear from others along the way.  To tell my story does not does not diminish the truth of grace, it magnifies it 100 times over. Why? Because I am still standing, breathing, living, loving and learning. 

My therapist told me, as I’ve been told many times before, “Jill. There is no way you should be alive, let alone able to function as you do. You were made to survive.” My circumstances were such that I was set up for addiction, promiscuity, crime etc. I literally should not be alive.

But I am. I am very much alive in all senses of the word; heart, mind, body, soul, and spirit.  To God be the glory.