Where to begin?
I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior at 4 years old. I was baptized at 9 years old. I enjoyed reading the Word, sharing the Good News, fellowship with other believers, and praise and worship. During this time I did experience a series of traumatic events, but my faith in God and my youth, helped me to just push on forward.
Then when I was 15 I experienced a traumatic event that changed me. My view of God was completely altered, my view of the world changed, and my feelings of self-worth were diminished. I put on a brave face and almost no one even knew the inner turmoil and pain I experienced. Fortunately God allowed me to continue on even when I had no desire to. I continued going to church regularly as not going was not an option in our household. But something was missing. The zeal I had for the Lord had been extinguished.
Fast forward a little over a year. During my entire senior year of high school, I was pregnant with my first son. Considering the “purity” classes and ceremony I had in which been forced to participate, this was definitely perceived as a bad thing. But I held on to Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (NIV).
Despite the hurt I encountered, I always knew God was there. The considerable ostracism I experienced on numerous fronts caused me to draw as close to the Lord as possible, and refuse to let go. My son is now 16 years old, a gentle giant who loves the Lord. He excels academically, athletically, and possesses a compassionate spirit.
Having my son 2 weeks before completing high school was challenging. It was certainly not part of my master life plan. However I am thankful for him, and his commitment to the Lord. He was recently baptized, and as I hugged my soaking wet son after being immersed I was grateful to the Lord. If not for having my son, I would not be where I am today. I likely would not have served in the Navy, met my husband, or had my other 3 sons (ages 13, 8, and 4). Additionally my son has been an amazing older brother to his siblings, all 3 who live with different degrees of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Ashley Wilson 