These precious moments move me to tears.
My sister was 13 when I decided to break into a house to steal the marijuana growing inside it. That was 13 years ago. Now, my sister is married with three beautiful little girls, my nieces. Her husband is a good man who takes care of his family, and their home is built on a foundation of Christ Jesus.
When I left, my sister, my father, her mother, basically everyone who was supposed to be there for her wasn’t. She was effectively left on the street, and by the grace of God, she made it through and is thriving. I still remember the first time I heard Zoe, my oldest niece, yell out, “I love you, Tio David!” Or the time she colored me a picture and wrote in her adorable kid handwriting, “Hi, I drew a picture for you. I hope that you will like it and I love you.” And my second youngest niece, Blue, told my sister to write “I love him” on her picture because she can’t write yet.
These precious moments move me to tears. In an instant, I realize how selfish I’ve been missing out on my own family. My sister didn’t have a single blood relative at her wedding, a moment that should have been filled with love and support. And all she wants is for me to come home. I’m basically all that’s left.
I’ve been living for people and things that don’t provide for me, that don’t care about me. I’ve missed out on a son I’ve never met. But after 13 years, it’s my sister who has become my rock. Through her, I found Christ and I found life. Now, I’m living for God and family, not people and friends. Life is too short, and I’m tired of being someone’s sad story.
God bless the world.
