Hi, my name is Patricia, Pat to my friends! As I sit and look back at my life, I stand in awe at where the Lord has brought me from and where I now am. I now know what love is—I now know what it is to be accepted.
Let us start at the beginning of my life—I was brought up by my grandmother and mother. My father died when I was 4 years old. I did not have a happy childhood. My mother verbally abused me constantly and by beating me with a cat of nine tails. My grandmother would save me many times. We never had money and I had to wear old people’s clothes that were given to my grandmother, who worked in what I called the big houses. When I was 11 my mother re-married and then my life took another turn.
My stepfather started to sexually abuse me from the age of 13. It started when my mother was in hospital having my sister. I would cry for God to help me but it still went on. I married at 19 and was very happy and went on to have 4 wonderful children. Then in 1974, I had my first drink. I was 30 years old, and I became an alcoholic overnight-I drank 6 days a week but never on a Sunday. On Sunday, I went to my church, which was the local parish. I had always been sent to church And Sunday school—so I went to communion every Sunday morning at 8.30am.
In 1976, I signed myself into a rehab hospital to seek help. I went to Alcoholic’s Anonymous. However, nothing helped. I know that my husband and children had an awful time with me—but I could not stop. I never once told my husband what my step-Dad had done to me. It was our little secret as he often told me. When I would get drunk, I would get in the bath and try to scrub myself clean. My past was tormenting me.
In 1980, my husband left me and the children for another woman. In addition, I tried to commit suicide. I took a vast amount of sleeping tablets and washed it down with vodka, went into my son’s bedroom to lie and die. My daughter found me and rang her Dad. He came and took me into hospital where they pumped out my stomach. I did not co-operate with the hospital staff, as I wanted to die.
However, I thank God for people being in that quiet place and being able to hear His voice. I was feeling very sorry for myself and did not know what to do. I asked God if he was real to send me help. The next morning there was a knock at my door (I was in a side ward) and this red haired man asked if my name was Pat and was I a Christian. I responded by shaking my head. He told me that during his quiet time the Lord spoke to him and told him to go to Ards Hospital that there was a woman called Pat that needed help. Praise the Lord is not God good? He then came into the room and started to pray for me. He was the curate of a local church and has now moved to Newtownbutler. What had he not responded to the lord? Where would I be today?
When I came to the Lord, I had a lot of baggage, which I needed to get rid of. For the first time in my life, I was able to face what had happened to me, how my childhood had been stolen. However, I thank God the He has restored unto me the years the locusts and canker worm had eaten. He brought a wonderful man into my life, who is now my husband, Victor and it is wonderful to have a husband that loves the Lord.
There has been many healings in my life. I had M.E. for 5 years and the Lord wonderfully healed me. There have been so many other wonderful things that have happened in my life that I could write my own book. I now know what it is to be greatly loved and accepted and I just love the Lord with all my heart. I never knew a father’s love, the way it was supposed to be, but thank God to-day I now have love that I had never experienced before. I know I am accepted. In addition, I am my father’s daughter–his little Princess whom He greatly delights in. Truly, the end is better than the beginning. For I am just like Cinderella. my prince found me (Jesus) and He has brought me into his palace to reign with him. It is wonderful to be free for his Word says; he whom the Son sets free is free indeed. In addition, ye shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free. I am free to worship the lord and there is nothing better I enjoy than serving him.
What the lord has done for me he will do for you.
Pat is a member of the GodHelpMePlease.com Prayer Team
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The Evidence 
