A New Family for Thanksgiving
Red Door E-Newsletter - October 2011
When I was growing up in New Jersey, I believed Thanksgiving was all about family. Every year, my mother and I, along with all my aunts, uncles and cousins, would gather at my grandmother's house to feast on turkey and all the trimmings.
Those were the happy years.
I was a creative child. I painted, sculpted, wrote music and stories — but my real love was drawing and animation. I got my first real job in grammar school. I got paid $60 to create and sell my own comic books to the kids at school. But I had bigger dreams. I wanted to be the next Walt Disney.
So I went to college to study video and animation. But tragedy hit me when my mother died during my third year in college.
I was very close to her, and I couldn't understand why God took her away. I got so depressed I dropped out of college, and my life unraveled.
I started partying, going to clubs, and experimenting with drugs to take the pain away. I never picked up my artist tools again.
I moved in with my grandmother, and I know she worried about me, because she prayed for me every day. I believe if it had not been for her prayers, I would not be here today.
Descent to Despair
But tragedy struck again a few years later when my grandmother died. Then greed split my family apart, as everyone — showing their true colors — tried to lay claim to her life savings and her home. Once they got hold of her house, they kicked me out, and I ended up homeless.
After my grandmother died, there were no more Thanksgivings or family celebrations. For 20 years, I spent my Thanksgivings alone, watching movies on TV, drinking beer, and wallowing in loneliness and despair.
Growing Gratitude
In October 2010, however, I finally came to The Bowery Mission and God started working in my life. I spent that Thanksgiving among friends and my new "family." And over the next six months, God showed me how to confront my problems and how to be still and wait on Him.
I recently graduated from The Bowery and I'm already planning on returning to The Bowery this coming Thanksgiving, so I can thank God for all the people He has put in my life. This Thanksgiving, I want to express my gratitude to all those who support this Mission for giving me a second chance.