Encouragement

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I always knew I was different. My motor skills were so poor that opening the door was a task. My extreme shyness caused others to think I was dumb or with a learning disability. But I was a smart girl. I passed all of my subjects in kindergarten but because of my antisocial behavior the teacher tried to keep me back for another year. After my mother talked to her, I went to the next grade. I made a few good friends and we hung out everyday at recess. But the most embarrassing moments of elementary school were when the occupational therapist would pull me out of class for therapy sessions. I felt like an abnormal child. In addition to this, I had to attend speech therapy because I stuttered and didn't pronounce my words correctly.

In middle school it was like a bad dream. I was constantly called "retarded" by some of the boys in the school and a girl who I thought was my friend was instigated the incidents. It was worst during P.E. While playing volleyball I always let the ball hit the ground and sometimes it hit me in the face. I felt guilty and angry at myself because I knew the team depended on me. I dreaded going to school.

During my freshman year in high school I met a good friend named Veinka. She was really nice to me and although we didn't hang out as much, we still talked to each other at school. Like me she encountered problems with a few students. We're still good friends. During my sophomore year I transferred to another school and things improved. I found favor not only with the students but also with the teachers. In fact, one of them, Mrs. Alicia Parker, helped me land my first internship at a small newspaper.

In college, it was a turning point for me. Through reading Scripture and listening to Christian radio, I slowly began to learn about God's unconditional love for me and His grace. I'm still healing from the hurt but in time I won't let my past affect my future.

I know some of you are hurting. You feel lonely, abandoned, ugly, hopeless or unloved. But this is not true if you're a believer. According to God's Word, you are forgiven, justified, redeemed, a member of the body of Christ, and unconditionally loved by God. He has a perfect plan for you. May these words be an encouragement to you.

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