My mother left me with my father after she moved to New York. At the time I was only three years old. Unfortunately, I was verbally and physically abused by my father. I remember , as a chid my best escape was taking daily strolls along the seashore. One day ,.much to my surprise I came across a huge sea turtle. When you read my book you can find out what happened with the sea turtle.
Two years later, I left Haiti to go live with my mother in New York. Much to my dismay, my mother verbally and physically abused me too. It was not until I got older that I learned the real truth. I learned that my father left my mom while she was pregnant with me. I reminded my mom of my dad because I looked so much like him. All the anger she harbored against my dad for leaving her, she took out on me.
Why is it important for me to tell this story about my personal life? I tell it because I want people to learn the power of being healed by forgiving those who have done you so much emotional harm. It is so much better to forgive than to let hatred take over and ruin you. Forgiveness is a very powerful tool . When you forgive, you are allowing God to heal you from the inside. God has blessed my life in so many ways , that I do not have enough fingers and toes to count my blessings.
I have been showered with many blessings. By doing well in school, the doors were opened for me to get a full ride scholarship to attend college. I lived on campus, where I was able to finally get away from the abuse. My junior year I got a second full ride which allowed me to study in Strasbourg France for a semester.
The biggest blessing of all is the joy of being able to help other young people who are going through abuse like I did as a child. During my twenty four years in the teaching profession I have come across many kids who have gone through similar experiences. I always tell them to please find a way to forgive so they can get healed. That is the only way they can move forward. There is no profit in holding on to hatred for it only enslave you more.
In closing, I wrote my book because what happened on the seashore near my home many years ago, was the most memorable moment of my childhood days while living with my father. We all have a choice in life, we can hold on to the bad memories and let them control and bring destruction to our life. On the other, we can hold on to the positives and allow those experiences to propel us to new heights and many new horizons. Life is too precious and short, may all of us be inspired to hold on very tighly to what is good and abhor what is bad.
.
This "says" so much, Nicole. Thank you for sharing so honestly of your "self" and your life. Love and blessings to you,
Regis