From Darkness Into The Light
Growing up I didn’t have a father figure in my life to guide me, to love me and to show me how to be a man. Even though my mother and I lived with one of my older brothers and his family, I didn’t have a close relationship with him. Maybe because he had his hands full raising two kids of his own. My mother was the love of my life growing up. She spoiled me rotten and gave me all that she could afford. She taught me to respect people and to be the best kid that I could. My mother also taught me about God according to what she knew and what she was taught. I can recall my mother reminding my siblings and I to pray at night before going to bed. Even though my mother didn’t know the whole truth she still made sure that we prayed.
I had many friends in the neighborhood where I lived, but one specifically that I would always go play with, who lived across the street from me. We would stay out late playing innocent games like “Tag” and “Hide and go seek” with other kids in the neighborhood. This friend of mine had an older brother and an older sister who were very influential in his upbringing. He looked up to his brother and sister who were already partying and drinking. My friend at a young age began to be interested in sex and in drinking also. I know he just wanted to feel like he was part of something and wanted to be considered “cool” or “hip.” Since I would always hang out with him, he began to slowly start influencing me and I began to be curious about the things that we would hear the older guys talking about. Most times if kids don’t have an adult that they feel comfortable talking to they will go to their friends with whatever questions they have and more than likely are going to learn everything about life the wrong way and that’s what happened to me. Read More »