If Pillows Could Talk: Life Experience

By Dr. Larry E. Brown

“If Pillows Could Talk, is a story that every man who has ever experienced discouragement, disappointment, and rejection should read. Dr. Larry Brown writes a humble and honest reflection of his life revealing both his mistakes and his greatest accomplishments. From dropping out of school at the age of 12 to being incarcerated by the age of 19, Dr. Larry Brown reveals on every page the power of God’s grace, mercy, and plans. If Pillows Could Talk is an incredible journey of one man’s quest to find acceptance, peace, love, and respect. Men from all walks of life will be able to find themselves in the pages of this book, and women will be exposed to the inner thoughts of their husbands, sons, and brothers. “

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dr. Larry E. Brown
• Release date: Oct 2, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301173754

Dr. Larry E. Brown

Dr. Larry Brown is the senior pastor of Faith and Victory Christian Center in Elizabeth City, North Carolina.

Book preview

If Pillows Could Talk

By Dr. Larry E. Brown

If Pillows Could Talk

Copyright © 2010 by Dr. Larry E. Brown

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from the author.

Published at Smashwords

Book Development and Editing by PenReady

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my loving wife, Gloria McPherson Brown. She has supported me through all that I have gone through and has been my help meet in everything I have done. Her Christian life and earnest prayers helped guide me through life’s difficult situations, and her consistency helped to motivate me in my ministry.

To my four beautiful daughters, Malkia Johnson, (William Johnson), Lakeisha Brown, Shavon Brown, and Rosa Brown, and my adopted daughter, Shekia Brothers and Isaac Brothers who have weathered many storms and different situations and have always been loving and supportive of me as their father. To God be the glory for all that He has done!

About the Author

Larry Edward Brown was born to Wiley Gilbert Brown and Rosa Snowden Brown in the Newland section of Elizabeth City, North Carolina. He was the ninth child among four sisters and five brothers. Like many of his time, he was born to meager means and quit school in the eighth grade. Having to endure hard times and great family struggles, he ran away from home at the age of twelve.

With a few dollars in his pocket, an address of a brother in Boston, Massachusetts, and a determination to pursue a better life, he set out on an unforgettable journey of life experiences that have made him the man that he is today.

Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Acknowledgments

First I give thanks to God, who is the Head of my life, the Supplier of all my needs, and the Source from which my strength comes to minister to others, to confront all situations, and to persevere, because the race is not given to the swift (Eccl 9:11), but to those who endure to the end. Secondly, I thank my loving wife, Gloria, who has been by my side and has loved me through the good and the bad. Furthermore, I thank my four beautiful daughters, Malkia, Lakeshia, Shavon, and Rosa, who have stood by me and encouraged me to keep pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high call of God in Christ Jesus (Phil 3:14).

Finally, thanks to all of my church family at Faith and Victory Christian Center. This book has helped me as well as others in learning how to overcome every obstacle that one could come up against in life. A special thanks to Sister Sheila M. Perry, Minister Glendora Brothers, Danielle Melvin and Ikisha Brothers for all their energy and efforts in assisting with my book.

Introduction

The names of the characters in this book are fictitious, but the incidents are true and very real. I reserve the right to omit any name as I feel needed, but my name, the name of my wife and my daughters are real.

Everyone has memories that are good to think about and sometimes we have memories that cause as much pain as when those things happened. My memories are no different; there are several good memories and bad memories that I don’t mind talking about.

I wrote this book because of all the boys and men everywhere that may be afraid of opening up to someone close to them. The pain of getting raped, beaten, and being lied to has caused their relationships with others to be difficult at best. God started dealing with me around age 45-50 to write my story, a story from my boyhood to now, as I stand as a man. For about thirteen years from my childhood, my heart had been broken. I tried everything one could think of, but could not find any help.

Ever since I was a boy, I always heard that a man ain’t supposed to cry—that is, if he’s a real man. I guess growing up and experiencing life (both the good and the bad) is a process. When you read this book, God is going to release some peace, joy, love, and prosperity into your life. Come walk this journey with me.

Chapter 1

My Pillow, My Friend

Sometimes the flashbacks and memories come in bits and pieces so it is difficult to give a true timeline of when the events that I am about to tell you occurred. The 1960’s were hard times for my father and mother because of the social and financial problems that they encountered. As I recall, the house that we lived in was a big house that stayed cold in the winter. The kitchen was in the back of the house, and we had a wood-burning stove, where Mama cooked all our meals. There were three bedrooms and a living room, where all of my three brothers and two sisters, plus my mother and father had to live and sleep.

The faded-white house had green shutters, a big front porch and was high off the ground, and we would play under the house, especially in the summertime to stay cool. In the winter, we burned wood and coal in the heater that was in the living room. The tongue-and-groove walls in the house were faded, and the floors were painted because there were no rugs on the floors. The doorknobs were glass and a skeleton key was needed to lock and unlock the doors.

My daddy was a farmer by trade but many times he would drive trucks for a local company to help keep food on the table. When he was home, he and Mama were always fussing about one thing or another, which kept tension in the house. I remember one day my parents were going to town to buy some groceries, and before