When I think about my journey, I get so excited!
By the time I was 13, all I wanted to do was prove
Of course, I’m relieved that my past is in the past,
to my family (and to the world) that I could live
but I am also extremely grateful that I can see
life on my own and make my own choices. I
God’s Grace on each page of my life story. HE is
went wherever my heart led me to go, not once
the anthem of my life!
asking or receiving any form of advice from an
• He saved me from destructive relationships.
adult. These choices led to some seriously bad
• He carried me home when I lay drunk on the
relationships. My heart was extremely vulnerable
floor of a night club.
and I was on a downward spiral!
• He protected me from huge accidents which could’ve taken my life. • He guided my steps when I couldn’t finish high school because of a lack of finances.
During this season, alcohol became my source of comfort on the weekends. I just wanted to be everywhere and do everything, and there was no
And the list goes on and on because He is a
way I was going to stay home. Boyfriend or not,
good, good Father.
I would find someone to hang out with. Deep in my heart, all I longed for was to be accepted…
And yet, despite all of these obvious encounters
needed… wanted. I can’t tell you how many
with God, my heart remained hardened towards
hearts I broke, or how many lies I told, or how
Him. How could that be?
many friends I’ve lost along the way.
To answer this question, let me take you back
Only God knows how I managed to wake up for
to the age of 7 years old. It was one of my first
school on Monday mornings. And yet, despite my
encounters with what I now recognize as a spirit
destructive lifestyle, I still managed to finish school
of ‘abandonment.’ We had gone to the zoo that
with relatively good results. His grace is very real!
day, but when it was time to leave, they forgot me there. I sat on a bench crying for hours until I was
Thankfully, God stepped back into my life when I
finally picked up. It really left an impression on
was 18 years old. I clearly remember Him saying
me. Getting left behind happened many times
“Enough is enough, Menaka. You are mine and
in the years that followed. I can vividly recall the
you need to embrace who I’ve called you to be!”
familiar feelings of abandonment… they became
These words were so clear in my head. Yes! For
very real to me.
once, I was not being led by my heart.
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