This Is Me by Trisha Rapley...

Fear her yes and the memory you're left with long after the presence of her can no longer be felt.

My father, Jesus Christ; knows the battles I've faced, the bad habits, the bad choices, and the things I did to survive those times.

And my life now is an absolute testament to his power, to his love, to his promise, to his word, to his strength, and his forgiveness.

The bad choices and the bad habits I once used to survive no longer serve a purpose in my life nor do they control or have any power over me anymore.

But I accept that there will be times when the memories they left behind will creep in making me remember it all over again.

Ghosts of the past.

I may not like them but they helped forge the beautiful woman who stands not only in faith but in love now.

Accept them I will, knowing very well the woman I was in those times just needed to be loved this was not her fault but it became her responsibility and I'm proud of her for breaking every chain that held her down.

So today I stand by the promises I made to my children, myself, and Jesus. I accept the woman I was will forever be a part of who I am today, but remember she is just that.

A memory of a time when my strength was in tatters, my faith - nonexistent, my courage barely recognizable, myself lost in the place I went to hide a lifetime ago.

And no matter what I'll never hate that part of myself, that woman sacrificed everything to continue in a world she did belong in so I could share my story with you today.

She did the very best she could when she had nothing left to give, she fought and never gave up just like the rest of you who are recovering or have recovered from the harmful choices we make to survive.

This woman is... me...

This Is Me by Trisha Rapley

This Is Me...