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Straight From the Heart
http://www.storiesfrommyheart.com
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by Suzanne Neider

 

As each day passes in my life, I still find myself not
believing that my life now is truly mine. In July 1997,
I met several more people who changed my life forever.

Let me take you back to December 1992 for a brief but
explanatory bit of information. For 28 years, I lived a
life of daily use of alcohol and drugs. My life became
out of control and by the grace of God, I sought help
from a twelve-step group. There I met my soul mate. John
took four children and myself into his home and heart and
has helped tremendously to shape our lives into normalcy
for the past seven and a half years. With his love we have
come a very long way.

While I spent several years on welfare to try to nurture
myself back to health, I faced many things about myself.
Foremost in my mind was the fact that I (at the time) was
39 years old and didn't even have a high school diploma
or G.E.D. The only jobs I had ever worked at were at
sewing factories and waitressing. I had no marketable
skills plus no education.

After several years on welfare I grew restless and bored.
I attended some GED classes but never completed them,
ergo no GED. President Clinton started a welfare reform in
1997 and my world became very scary. The welfare department
mandated that all recipients had to attend classes in order to
obtain their GED's. Not only that but I had to work 30 hours a
week for the welfare department!! My caseworker tried her
best to convince me to try to go to work for the state after
getting my GED. I had lived the life of a hermit so to speak
for five years and my world was very small at that time. I
flat out stated a resounding NO to her suggestion. I would
never be smart enough to work for the state. Besides, who
would hire me, a woman who had been on welfare all those
years? My self-esteem had minimal limits and I knew I would
never be good enough for the state to hire. Besides, who
wanted to work in an office?

While I worked for the welfare department, my caseworker
still peppered me with insistence that I should go to work for
the state. I repeatedly refused. She bragged on me, often
telling me that the caseworkers were impressed with my
professionalism in dealing with clients. Pier (not her real name)
told me that she believed in me and she knew I would be great
for the state as an employee. For some reason, her statement
stuck with me.

Finally, an opening came through in the school I was to
attend. I was impressed at the school. It was an extension
of the State University. After only a month of computer
classes on the basics of the test for the GED the director
told me I was ready to test! The fear set in immediately. I
wasn't ready. I wasn't smart enough. The director insisted,
telling me she believed in me. Reluctantly, I went and tested.
I prayed and prayed to pass the test and remarkably I did
with a very high score! Needless to say, I was dumbfounded.
Deciding on a career, I began to study. I had chosen to be a
hospice nurse. I wanted to help people who were dying.

One day at school, I was called in to the director's office.
Once inside I noted that one of my teachers was in there also.
They had an offer for me. Would I be willing to work at the
state employment office as an interviewer aide? The pay was
three times what I had ever made. Now, I have looked one too
many gift horses in the mouth in my time and passed on them.
This time though with a conviction I latched on to this one. I
was told that it would be on a two-year temporary assignment
with full benefits with the possibility of getting hired
permanently at the end. I went on the interview and was hired
the same day. I was told that I was recommended highly by the
welfare department section that I had worked for, as well as
the director of the school and my caseworker! With no computer
skills and even less confidence, I began working for the state
on December 1, 1997. What a terrific Christmas present.

After a year and a half as an interviewer aide, I was promoted
to an interviewer. On my two-year anniversary, I was told that
I had been hired as a permanent employee. A better Christmas
present than I had dreamed of!!

In January 2000, I became the coordinator of our computer
room and I'm currently waiting to complete my education as a
career guidance counselor. I look forward to going to work
each day and not a day passes that I don't remember where I
have come from. I am grateful beyond words to the many
people who believed in me and saw something that I couldn't
conceive, let alone believe in. My gratitude most especially
goes to my Creator for making all this possible.

© 2000 Suzanne Neider
theokcclan@email.msn.com

Send Suzanne an email and let her know what you thought of her story!
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Suzanne Neider is a mother of four living in Oklahoma City.
This article is her first attempt at getting published and her
wish is for this article to at least reach one person out there
and give them the hope and desire to better themselves as
it was given to her.

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By:  Deborah L. Hartzell

Dear God

I cry out to you now
I am in such pain
I need you to hold me
Till it all goes away
I do not understand
Why I got MS
I do know it's not because I was bad
Or because I deserved the pain
I know that I'm special
I am Your dear child
And if I'm not cured
On this earth where I am a visitor
I know I will be healed
When you come to bring me home
It's very scary
Yet I know you will pull me through
Holding me every step of the way
Knowing You are near
Takes away all the fear
Thank you For allowing me
To be an angel here
I love you dear GOD

© 1998 Deborah L. Hartzell
DHAngelGirl72@aol.com

Send Deborah an email and let her know what you thought of her poem!
----------------------------------------------------------
Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at the age of 24
in May 1997.  Been a rough ride but I know God is
with me daily.  I live with my Mom, Barbara and my two
cats Nikki and Frankie.  The love of my life, Stephen
 will be moving to the States from South Wales on
November 22.  We will be married December 16.
Right now I am in a wheelchair, but taking strenuous
Physical Therapy so I will be walking again by the fall.

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Comment on yesterday's mail:  Seasons of Our Love

From: rita65560@yahoo.com (Rita Cates)

Just had to tell you that this poem arrived on my 39th
anniversary.....39 years of ups and downs, better and
worse, sickness and health, richer and poorer....and I
would do it all over again with the wonderful man who
has been by my side for these last 39 years....I can
only pray that God gives us many more years together.

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Thought For The Day:

"It is a mistake to look too far ahead.  Only one link of the chain of destiny can be handled at a time."
(Sir Winston Churchill)

 

Verse for the Day:

"You do not know what will happen tomorrow.  What is your life?  You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes."
James 4:14

 

Kid's Thought For The Day:

"If you are going to draw on the wall do it behind the sofa."

 

Parent's Thought For The Day

"Children behave best when their stomachs are full and their bladders are empty."
(Vicki Lansky)

 

Coach's Thought For The Day

"Please leave your egos in the locker room."

 

Deep Thought For The Day:

The stoplight on the corner buzzes when it is safe to cross the street.  I was crossing with an intellectually challenged co-worker of mine, when she asked if I knew what the buzzer was for.  I explained that it signals to blind people when the
 light is red.  She responded, appalled,  "What on earth are blind people doing driving?"

 

  _
/_/\/\    MICHAEL T. POWERS
\_\  /    THUNDER27@aol.com  
/_/  \    "For I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but
\_\/\ \   Christ lives in me.  The life I live in the body I live for the Son
   \_\/   of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."  Galatians 2:20 

Video Imagery (Michael's Video Production Business.)

"I thought of you first after my family sat down to watch the video we gave them. They loved it, to say the least!  Within thirty seconds my mom was crying and my dad did too.  They said it was the best Christmas gift we could have given them!!  You did such a beautiful job!  They were so surprised and so touched---they really, really, really loved it.  Thanks for helping to make it so special to us all.  My mom mentioned how the songs were perfect for the video too!  Thanks again!"
        
Kelli  (RKaGe@aol.com)    College Station, TX

Let me make you a video from your pictures or home movies!
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 Video Imagery
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Do you feel as if life has no meaning for you?
 The Four Spiritual Laws
http://www.ccci.org/laws/index.html

Writer's guidelines for Straight From the Heart can be found here:

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Thanks!

 

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