This is an abridged version of Sherry’s testimony.

When I was a little girl I made up my own reality by telling lies to others about my life so that I would not have to experience the horrible reality that I was forced into living. I am the youngest of 8 children. I was the only child from my mother and father together. When they were married and had me, my mom was 26 and my father was 57.

The best times in my life were spent with my Grandma. We talked about God, and what life means. One day, I asked Grandma “Are you afraid to die?” and she said, “No baby I’m not, because I get to see Jesus and the day I die will be a wonderful day.” My Grandma was my best friend.

I was 18 when I married my High School sweetheart and we had a son together. We were divorced a year later because of his cocaine use, drinking, and affairs with other women. A pattern was starting to form in my life. Our son was born and at 3 weeks of age he had a stroke, leaving him with Cerebral Palsy, Epilepsy, bipolar disorder, and a genetic disorder leaving him paralyzed and hospitalized three to four times a year. I was told he would never walk or ride a bike, he would be wheelchair bound for life. I wanted to blame my husband for all of this.

A year later, my divorce was finalized and by this time I was pregnant by someone who was physically abusive—insanity—same pattern—different guy! I gave birth to my second son Devin in 1994. There were complications with my son’s delivery, and he suffered brain damage. Because of physical abuse, again, I found myself raising my child alone. May 1, 1995 is forever burned into my memory because Devin passed away from SIDS at 9 months old. I assumed the burden of shame and guilt because of my lifestyle choices. That day I prayed and asked God to end my life.

When my grandmother died, I lost my best friend. That was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

In my insanity, I rationalized that I must be getting better because I would only go to a bar once a month and go home with a man but did not have sex with him. I thought that was a major accomplishment but boy was I wrong.

After a while, I started getting closer to God for real, this time; went to church, and the Holy Spirit began convicting me.

I knew I was coming to a crossroad. But on one of my once-a-month binges, I got so drunk I went home and decided to take a bath before bed. While in the bathtub I passed out and slipped under the water. My son felt a prompting to use the bathroom, walked in, saw me under the water, and had to pull me out to save my life. He was only ten years old. I regret that night.

I was 37 when I got my second DUI and that was my rock bottom. I knew something had to change. I was done: done rationalizing; done telling myself I could do it; and done fighting the fight alone.

I was saved at youth group on my 16th birthday and even though I made a lot of wrong choices, I always went to church every Sunday, and my faith remained intact. I just didn’t know where my hope went. I remember asking some people about a Christ-centered recovery program I heard about and they told me about Celebrate Recovery. I had this sinking feeling in my heart as I finally realized I was not such a tough girl anymore. I could do a lot of things. But I could NOT stay sober by myself on my own!

I was defeated.

It was very humbling for me to call my mom, crying, in August of 2014 to ask her if she would go with me to Celebrate Recovery for my first time and telling her I needed help. Her tough, smart, weight lifting, problem solving, know it all, I-got-this-all-under-control little girl, found something much bigger than me that I couldn’t manage to conquer.

So, we came here to Celebrate Recovery and I walked in very different than I usually was. The pride was gone; I was broken, scared, and full of doubt about my future and who I would become. I knew being knocked off my feet and exposed to Jesus would inevitably and dramatically change me. I worried about what Jesus would ask me to do because I knew it would be something huge. Nevertheless, I walked through that door and the scales were scraped off my eyes and I began to see clearly.

With that first experience I knew I was home at Celebrate Recovery. Jesus’ presence was strong and I knew that change was going to happen. So, I decided that I was committing. I had to relearn how to live life all over again – SOBER! And it is 100% worth it.

Through all the pain and tears, the peace, joy, and encouragement God has given me far outweighs any amount of work he has required from me. It’s like a garden; God planted the seed of hope into my heart the day I sincerely accepted his salvation. I need my CR Bible, church, and Step Study group to help keep my heart from getting the life choked out of it by my baggage.

Delayed obedience is disobedience to God. And He never gave up on me.

All He wants from me is to say yes and freely accept the gift he offers to me with a sincere heart and have a personal relationship with him everyday. I had this warped idea that I would never be good enough for Jesus to really love me, because I have done way too many things wrong in my life. I have since learned that was the farthest thing from the truth.

The Bible says in Romans 5:8, “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” I come to Jesus broken and messed up, and the closer I get to him he will do the cleaning, the fixing, and the spiritual surgery. God knows I am not perfect. God has changed me, and my life, in so many ways. God is repairing me and helping me.

I have made new forever friends to replace all the ones I left when I became sober. I have found great peace and serenity in my recovery. I am finally ready to embrace God’s purpose for my life without reservation. I have started to feel “real” freedom and “real” joy for the first time in my life. Now I can smile through any trial and I am trusting God with everything in my life.

Others have noticed a great change in me and it has brought them to Celebrate Recovery where I first started. I have been serving others as God leads me to do so because I am excited to tell others about Jesus and this wonderful program Celebrate Recovery He led me to, so they can experience true freedom through Jesus like I have. I am amazed and thankful how God has used me.

I kept my hope with my son who had the stroke and kept praying and a miracle happened. Jesus healed him and he now walks and rides a bike, and has been healed of seizures. My son even loves the Lord with all his heart, soul, and mind. Jesus healed me of a brain tumor at 34. There is no doubt in my mind that Jesus is real. I cannot deny the evidence of Him in my life. I have been a foster parent to 4 children and the kids have accepted Jesus and have gone back to share their new hope with their families. God has been repairing my family relationships and I am forever thankful.

I am so surprised at the amount of forgiveness Jesus has put in my heart. Jesus has even taught me how to pray for my enemies. In Matthew 5:44 the Bible says “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

Now I don’t do anything in my life without God’s direction first. I find great peace walking in God’s will.

I have been through hell and back.

I’ve lived,
I’ve loved,
I’ve laughed,
I’ve cried. But through it all I KNOW God is my strength.
I AM A SURVIVOR!

Today I have HOPE – I am a redeemed child of the most High King, Jesus Christ, and my name is Sherry.