I was born into a hard home. My mother drank and left husbands for the next boyfriend she met in a bar. We moved constantly. These new men would beat her, and she kept chasing the next one who might love her—all while dragging me along as a young girl. When I was four, a neighbour invited us to an Easter Sunday service. That day at church, I was given a chocolate Easter egg and a colouring picture of Jesus’ face. I kept that picture, and when I’d hide in the closet to escape the violence, I would talk to it—not realizing I was actually praying. God stayed with me throughout a harsh life with an atheist mother. She was angry that God never loved her and wouldn’t allow anything Christian in our home. But I would quietly sneak out of bed and turn on the TV to watch Billy Graham’s messages of hope and love. Even at a young age, I was drawn into God's love. At 14, I started going to church on my own and was baptized. I've spent my life seeking God, raising my children to love the Lord, and building a happy home with a wonderful husband. My mother is now 83—a hardened atheist filled with hate. She’s had the chance to accept Christ, but has openly said she’s fine going to hell. Still, I believe the prayers of my grandmothers, who were both Christians, helped lead me to salvation. My father once encountered Jesus in a white light—others saw the light around him too—but he still struggles, searching for faith and not finding God. I’m thankful every day that Christ came to me so young. He saved me, guided me, and held me through a hard life. Mercy upon mercy.

The devotional, the word for you today, I just love it. I get it in my inbox every morning and that's how I start my day is looking at your devotional. I find that God meets me where I'm at with those devotionals, like God continually surprises me through those devotionals. It's like he's speaking to me through those devotionals. And he's he's basically just saying, you know, that I'm with you. I understand the things that you're going through, whatever. And it amazes me how many times as soon as I read the title of the day for the devotional. It's like, ohh. I needed to read that today. So it's it's amazing how God has worked through those devotional.

You know when you're alone, you're driving alone and you're far from home -- It's inspiring because of the music and the words. I know there's other sisters and brothers. We're tripping along and I don't feel alone. My spirit is fed. And I I feel such joy and peace and comfort. And the word through the music, it's life and it breathes in into my spirit: encouragement. That's why I want to give to UCB.