As a child, I loved to express myself through writing. Putting pen to paper was something that came easily to me. It allowed me to go somewhere alone with my emotions. Writing and journaling took me out of my dark moments and filled me with hope.

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In 1996, my early twenties, the struggles in my marriage had become real. I began to journal as a way of escape. In those pages, I poured out my frustration, my fears, and my failures. My journal became a place where I poured out the emotions that stirred within me. As I wrote about my inner turmoil, all I could do was hope that God was listening.

 

Around this time, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. As I endured months of radiation, I decided to write letters to my young son. I did not believe I would be around for long and I wanted my son to know how much I loved him. I wanted him to get to know me through my journal entries.

 

Years passed, and I was still here! How awesome is God!

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I know now that God kept me here for so much more than I could possibly imagine. When my daughter was born, my journal entries evolved into sharing my thoughts, hopes, and dreams for both of my children.

I journaled for God to protect them. With each entry, I found myself connecting more and more to God in those pages and His word. I asked Him why I was facing so many struggles. I expressed my anger many times at my circumstances. Still, I was very grateful for being alive.

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Soon, I began to close my entries with a prayer to God. I begged Him to see me in my pain and to give me the strength to move forward.

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I was hooked!

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Writing in my journals became my haven, my safe place. My journal was the place I met up with God and emptied my heart and soul before Him. In return, with every prayer, He began to pour peace and joy into my heart. Prayers started to be answered.