Some Thoughts About My Bad History

However, I thought it would be OK if I shared some of my bad historical events so as to share the wisdom along with it.

The most important thing, is that I am a survivor of the bad experiences and have learned and what has happened has made me stronger in life.

It was the end of February, 1994 and I had woke up to the distant sound of my dog barking and then the harsh smell of smoke.

I got up thinking that someone had burned something in the kitchen.

Upon looking out my bedroom door, I saw big billows of smoke and when I looked toward the front of my house, it was engulfed in flames.

I hollered Fire loudly 3 times and slammed my door shut thinking and contemplating my next move.

I and 3 other people escaped the fire.

Unfortunately my dog Minnie and an elderly gentlemen (much like a grandfather to me) did not escape and were found dead in the house due to smoke inhalation.

The wisdom I wish to pass on about this bad experience is this:

Please make sure all your smoke detectors are up to date and have working batteries.

Make sure you understand each person that is sharing your home and if they have a disability and what those disabilities are.

Limit smoking areas.

Sprinklers would be a great extra added feature if you can afford to install them.

Make sure your insurance is paid and up to date.

I had to fight the insurance company for over a year to try to get what was due me.

I had to hire a company that helped me to some degree, but I had to pay out an extra 10% besides the 33 and 1/3% to the Attorney.

I could not find an Attorney to help me with the whole thing to begin with.

When I finally did get what was due me, I felt like I had been scrapped over the coals by the vultures and left with crumbs. The attorney thought I should be rejoicing over the victory of getting something!

The real good that did come out of this event was later on down the road. If it had not have been for the loss of my home, I may still be sitting there and still praying for the change that was needed.

Both my husband and myself after moving down to Georgia, I rededicated my life to Christ and he met Christ for the first time.

But before that happened, I also went through my son getting shot, which he survived, but has missing fingers and some damage in his other upper arm.

While in Georgia, I experienced discrimination on my job.

At every turn of each and every thing I have went through, one thing for sure is that God was always there for me. I say this, because as Romans 8:28 says:
"All things work out for the good, for them that are in God's purpose". I can attest that the discrimination case and the fire worked out in the end for the good.

The discrimination case was a means to gather us some monies that we would need to relocate back to Michigan.

Now, I hope and pray that all the bad of my life is well behind me and that I can extend a helping hand to others, because I realize that life is not defined by status or things, but by helping others that are less fortunate to find their way in life.

Life is truly good in spite of some of the bad things that can happen to us at any given time.

If you love someone, pass this article along to them, so they can learn that somewhere there is a recourse and the value in whatever they may go through.

May God Bless and Keep all of us!