How Denise found the courage to heal and build a life of purpose.
For Denise, gratitude is not a seasonal buzzword. It is the way she has chosen to build the life she feared she would never have.
To see her today, you might not be able to imagine the hardship she has lived through. “Looking at my life now, it would be easy to think it has always been this way,” Denise says. “But the road that brought me here looked very different.”
Stuck in motion
For many years, Denise believed the best way to deal with pain was to keep moving. When things in her life became too much to bear, she packed up and started over. She experienced abuse, grieved heartbreaking family losses, and watched businesses she had poured her heart into slip away.
Each time life became overwhelming, she convinced herself that a new place would bring a new beginning. “Anytime things would get uncomfortable, I’d pack my kids up and go somewhere else,” Denise says. But no matter where she went, hurt followed her. “Eventually, I ran out of places to run.”
A place of safety
By the time Denise came to The Bowery Mission, she was exhausted from carrying financial burdens, years of disappointment, grief, and the heavy belief that she had to handle everything. Looking back, she believes that God led her here when she needed it most.
“From the moment I walked through those Red Doors, I experienced something I hadn’t felt in a very long time,” Denise says. “I felt safe.”
At the Mission, Denise was met with kindness. She received a warm welcome by our staff who listened without judgment and reminded her that her story was not over. For the first time in years, she stopped running long enough to let people walk beside her and help carry her burdens.
“At The Bowery Mission, I saw the gentleness, the love, the patience, the generosity, and the kindness of God….The Bowery Mission didn’t take away my dignity. They GAVE me dignity.” — Denise
Learning to be still
One of Denise’s favorite Scriptures is Psalm 46:10, which reminds us to “Be still, and know that I am God.”
“I had heard those words before,” Denise says. “But I had never truly lived them.”
During her time in our Residential Program, she came to see how she had let fear stop her from truly moving forward. “I was afraid that I wasn’t going to be in control of my life,” Denise says. “But then, when I began to loosen the reins and trust the process, I realized I really needed the structure.”
Building a life of purpose: generosity & gratitude
Today, Denise works as a private aide and also helps people style their homes and curate their closets. She recently spent 90 days sharing gratitude on social media to encourage others.
“I try to do for others what someone once did for me,” Denise says. “I open my home. I mentor young people. I donate clothing. I listen because The Bowery Mission taught me something I’ll never forget: we all have something to give.”
Denise’s life today is a testament to what can happen when someone is met with dignity, surrounded by community, and given the opportunity to heal. Her story also reminds us that one person’s generosity can become a turning point in someone else’s life.
“I don’t think the trauma we have experienced is just for us. Good things happen for us to share with others: there is hope. And bad things happen for us to tell others: you will come through it.” — Denise
You can help others find true hope
Your support helps give people like Denise the opportunity to overcome fear and stand on their feet again. Thank you for your compassion that makes the life-changing work of The Bowery Mission possible!