The picture on the right is me on March 18, 2017. I was a hopeless mess and at my rock bottom. I was addicted to drugs and living a lifestyle of self-destruction. I wanted to die and was well on my way.
The other picture is me today living sober and clean. I hope it shows those who are struggling with addiction that there is hope and a way out.
When I was twelve, I started hanging out with the wrong people and started smoking weed, drinking and partying. I thought it was a good time. At sixteen, my high school boyfriend and two of my best friends died in a car accident. I was devastated and my life just went downhill from there. I didn’t know how to cope with my feelings and no one knew how to help me at the time. Everything progressed from there. By the age of 21, I had my two kids. I really wanted be a great mom, but I still wanted to do what Jordyn wanted to do. For the next few years my drug use progressed, and all I could focus on was what I could do for myself.
Everything finally caught up with me last year and I went to jail. When I was released, I remember standing in the jail parking lot with my sister and my best friend. They gave me a choice. I could go into a twelve month treatment program or go back on the streets and lose my kids. I was upset about it, but I chose to get help. My sister had already made arrangements and I came to Union Mission’s Addiction Recovery program on March 27, 2017.
It was hard at first and it took me a few months to adjust. Once I was willing to open my heart and be teachable, my life began to change. In May of last year
I rededicated my life to the Lord and I started walking with Christ. Bridget Washington, the women’s recovery program director, helped me do that. God placed her in my life along with so many other people at Union Mission, who’ve poured God’s love into me and these other girls. I have learned so much.
Throughout the program, the verse that has been with me is Psalms 46:10 which reads, “Be still and know that I am God.” It is something that I have been working on as God tells me, “Jordyn you’re not in control of you. I’m in control of your life and I’ve been trying to tell you that for 26 years. So just let it be.”
I graduated on March 29 of this year and have chosen to stay at the mission as an intern to help the other ladies in the program. I hope to one day help children and I want to go to school for early childhood development. I want to teach them about God. If we teach them when they are young, I think this world would be a much better place.
On April 18, all of my charges were dropped and I praise God for that. My life is completely different now. I am a living testimony that the chains of addiction can be broken. I’m no longer labeled “a junkie”. I am alive, clean and sober and I give all the glory, honor and praise to Jesus Christ!
I am so thankful that I can now say that I’m a godly woman and I’m a godly mother. My kids are learning about God and they get to see the transformation in
my life and in their lives too.
I’ve had so much love and support throughout my recovery and I am thankful for each one of you. Take a look at me before and now. If God can change my
life and pull me up from the pits of hell, he can do it for anybody.
If you are battling addiction, I hope this encourages you to get help. We can’t change our past, but we can change your future.
