In the summer of 1998, I had just completed my first year of college and was visiting family in Kentucky. My little cousin and I were taking a walk down the winding road that runs between two big beautiful hills and past the homes of both my Mother and my Father's relatives. We were enjoying the warm sunshine as we walked; and we stopped occassionally to pick the wild flowers or look down into the creek. A big red pick up truck had driven by us three times, coming and going down the road. Finally, on the third trip, it stopped beside us and a cousin on my Father's side leaned out the window. I don't know much of my Father's family but I did recognize Kent. He has thick black hair, tanned skin, and a black mustache. I always thought he should be on the front of a Marlboro carton with his horse beside him, wearing a big cowboy hat with a cigarette in his mouth.
He looked at me and asked (in that soothing southern drawl) "Your Joan's daughter aren't you?" I told him that yes, I was her daughter. He asked about Mom and what I was up to. I told him that I was visiting while on summer break from college.
I'll never forget what he said next..."Wow! You're really goin' to be somethin'".
At that moment I felt proud of myself. I was one of very few in my family to go to college and I had beaten the odds of making it.
According to the statistics, I was placed in a higher percentile of being at risk. At risk to be a highschool dropout, single mother living on welfare, tormented by mental illness and bad decisions. But thank the Lord, statistics didn't determine my future! God used what seemed so bad to help me break the cycle of poverty and apathy. I know many would look at me and think that I don't have much...but they don't know...they don't know what I've come from. I'm richer than I've ever been, both financially and spiritually. And none of it was accomplished through my own strength, it was ALL GOD ALL the TIME! So when I start to become discouraged, I just think of all that Father has done for me. He truly is my deliverer! I love Him so much! | 
Posted by 
Posted by 
• Feb. 11, 2008 - Untitled Comment
~Robin