I was just 14 years old when I wanted someone to care; I longed to be loved and accepted by anyone. What I was unaware of at the time was, I needed someone to teach me that I was valuable. In search of love, I looked for it in all the wrong places because I felt inadequate. I did not know that I was worthy of anyone’s love. The downloads I received as a child were one of pain; the pain was all I knew and I somehow mistakenly took pain as love. The dysfunction and abuse I was raised around taught me to accept less in relationships. Healthy relationships were not portrayed in front of me, and this caused me to seek after the same dysfunctional relationships I experienced growing up. These toxic downloads that I received gave me a negative self-value system of beliefs concerning my identity and self-worth. In my search for true love and acceptance, I gravitated to unhealthy individuals. I stayed in what I considered to be at that time “love relationships” with anyone who would show me some sign that they wanted me. My desperation for love kept me in toxic relationships, and I wound up pregnant at the age of 14.
When I had my child at the age of 15, I felt the judgment from society and church. I remember riding the bus one day to go to a doctor’s appointment; there were two older ladies on the bus staring at me and talking about me negatively. I heard, “Wow, that is just a shame.” When I went to church, I was also treated as if I was wrong. This treatment made me feel alone and ashamed; I felt I had done the ultimate unthinkable sin. I thought I would surely be punished by God. Lost and confused I didn’t know what to do, I was feeling like an outcast in the world.
The love that I was searching for I never really found until I had my child that needed my care and affection. I gave birth to a beautiful daughter her name is Vashon, and I love her dearly. She had the thickest charcoal black hair; I loved to play in it, and in my eyes, she was perfect! The moment I looked into my daughter’s face, I felt like she was all I needed, and it didn't matter what anyone else said about me. The mocking and the disappointments of others no longer mattered to me, I only felt love, and that was priceless! God gave me my daughter as a gift, a perfect love gift that allowed me to find true love. For that I am grateful!
My core message to you reading this would be, KNOW YOUR WORTH! You are valuable even if you feel as though no one else values you or tells you that you are. You've got to dig deep inside of yourself and find out why you were created. I asked God to help me; I believe that our creator did just that. I started reading and doing research about God and why I was created and found out that all my pain has a purpose. You have a purpose to fulfill even though you may not have been taught that you do. Human life is priceless, that means YOU ARE PRICELESS. Know that you are supported by God when no one else supports you. If you are unsure of who you are today, I urge you to find out. Today is the day to begin to know who you truly are. Today is the day that you raise the value of yourself high above what you've ever understood before. Today is the day that you take control of your life! You dictate your future, and you say, I am an OVERCOMER. Tell yourself that you are powerful, worthy, loved, accepted, and you are enough for you! Do not allow anyone to define you based on your past decisions and actions.
My name is Sharon Blake, and I AM AN OVERCOMER, Author, Mentor, Publisher, and a Huffington Post Contributor. It wasn’t easy, but I chose to use my pain instead of allowing my pain to use me! It may not be easy, but it will be worth it.
If you need help, The Empowerment Center located at 4340 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma Washington is there to help teenage mothers. Pastor Lawanna Lee states, “God has a plan, and a purpose for these mothers and we intend to reach out to help guide teenage mothers to their greatness.” The Empowerment Center is hosting “A Night of Elegance for Teenage Mothers May 12th, 2017. This event they will empower teenage mothers to live to their fullest potential. For more information about this event, please contact Lawanna Lee @ The Empowerment Center or 253-677-7740. If you would like to help, sponsors are welcomed and needed.
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