This Is My Story: I Once Was Lost, Volume Ii

By Theron J. Houston

In This Is My Story: I Once was Lost, Volume II, Theron J. Houston continues with an anthology of his life. In this book, you will see how God has become an essential part of his life and his discovery of the power of prayer. When your life appears to be out of order and out of control, we all still have a God that is a God of order, and he is still in control. This book will not only make you think but it will inspire you and inform you that our Heavenly Father has a divine purpose for your life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Apr 21, 2016
• ISBN: 9781514485064

Theron J. Houston

Theron J. Houston was born and raised in Marianna, Arkansas. He graduated from Lee Senior High School in 1988. After high school, he served in the United States Army for four years and the Arkansas Army National Guard for over four years. In 1996, he graduated from East Arkansas Community College in Forrest City, Arkansas, with a degree in criminal justice. He has worked in the field of corrections, on the state and federal levels, for over twenty years. In 2010, he was named a living legend in his hometown by the Lee County Revitalization Initiative. In addition to being an author and reentry affairs coordinator, Theron is an inspirational speaker. He currently resides in Forrest City, Arkansas, with his wife and son.

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Copyright © 2016 by Theron J. Houston.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2016906120

ISBN:   Hardcover     978-1-5144-8508-8

             Softcover       978-1-5144-8507-1

             eBook           978-1-5144-8506-4

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without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Authorized Version). First published in 1611. Quoted from the KJV Classic Reference Bible, © 1983 by the Zondervan Corporation.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version. NIV. © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. [Biblica]

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Rev. date: 04/30/2016

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CONTENTS

Dedication

Acknowledgments

This Is My Story

195 Locust Street

Theron… Where Are You?

A Higher Calling

Rough Draft

Nothing but Everything

My Contact List

A Letter from God

I Ain’t Afraid of No Ghost: The Paraclete

Your Evolution Will Be Scandalized: The Gift

The Stars You Will Never See

This Can’t Wait till Sunday

I Got Five on It

Six: I Am More Than a Number

Seven

Aisle 10

I Am Ready to Come Back Home

Favorville

Beer Money

That’s What’s Up… WORD up!

The Mountain Next to the Valley

Just a Little While Longer: Rebirth by Fire

A Case of the Ness

Do Any of You Have Enough… ?

Brainstorm: The Battle in My Mind

Download Some Staying Power

Your Ignantcy

Blockroaches: Uninvited Pests

Messquitoes

Gorilla Warfare

God… I just Want a Quickie

Long Enough

Where the Air Is Thin

In the Palm of His Hand

It’s Hot as Hell!

Devil… You Have the Wrong Hostage!

Do You Know …?

Yesterday

Keep on Truckin’: Load Warrior

Balance

Irrelevant

5K1: Caught Up in the Prison Within

Survive the Cut

It’s Morning Time

In the Mirror

Grounded

Oh My God… Jesus Christ Is Dead!

You Don’t Know My Daddy

Grease

Thinking of a Master Plan: Plan Bee

He’s Faithful

Lemon Aid

Let’s Play Church

I’ll Tap That!

For You… For Me

My Greatest Asset

It’s complicated

Missing in Action: The Flame

The Watchman’s Trial

Boost off

I have been through it before

Pow! Who Pulled the Trigger?

Let the Games Begin

Surfing the Channels of Your Life

The Keys of Life

All I Want… Won’t Do Right

Gone Too Far… Too Far Gone: The Compass and the Road Atlas

Hooked

Trick

Your Enemies’ Favorite Color

The Call Before I Fall

Though They Slay Me

Sunday’s Crack House

This Is Some BS!

He Saw the Mess in Me

What Do You Believe?

I Want To Be Me. I Want To Be Free: Doing Time

God… I Am Disappointed in You

Why Do You Want to Break Up?

Father

Hate: Now, Tomorrow, and Forever

Ready or Not for the World: The Apple of My Eye

God … You Know What? I’d Rather Die

When You Stop Believing… When You Start to Give Up: The Transition

Sellout: Life on Top

Lust and Flip-Flops: A Dummy with a Mummy

Let the Backslide Show Begin

I Am my Brother’s and Sister’s Keeper Upper

Midnight

Staying in My Lane

My Current Affair

DEDICATION

To the woman on the cover, my late grandmother, Lillie Bell Houston and my late aunt, Dorothy Houston Lloyd. I thank God for blessing me with both of them. May they continue to rest in peace.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

First and foremost, I thank God for blessing me with the gift of creative writing. I always try to use the gift bestowed on me to magnify His glory. I will never be able to thank Him enough. I also thank my beautiful and intelligent wife, De,etta, and my handsome and very outgoing son, Jackson, for their love and for always being there for me. I couldn’t have done this without you. Both of you are truly a blessing in my life.

I also have many more people to acknowledge. In one way or another, all of them have been an essential part of my journey in what we all call life. I like to thank my mother, Olivia Houston, for her love and wisdom; and my siblings Kevin, TC, Vivian (deceased), Krista, Jason, Keith, Katrina, Cedric, and Kamille for their love and support. I like to give a special thanks to my brother, James, for always being there for me while we were growing up. Even though he is approximately one year older than me, he has always been a surrogate father to me. I have always looked up to him. Thanks for everything. To my in-laws in the great state of Kentucky: my mother-in-law Alice Smith, Tim and Debbie Thurman, and Carlos and Bertha Barnes. I thank all of you for the love you have given and shown me since I have been a part of the family. I can’t thank you all enough.

Furthermore, I have some brothers from another mother I want to recognize. I like to thank Danny Burnett for always being a brother I can count on for a word of encouragement. He has never let me down. This next brother I have known for over twenty years. This man was there for me when I had nothing and is still there for me today. His name is Derrick Williams, and I thank you for being my brother and friend. I also want to recognize Rodney Barnes and Anthony McFarlin. I want to thank both of you for all you did for me while we served together in the U.S. Army. What both of you did for me will always be appreciated and never forgotten.

I cannot forget my Bureau of Prisons family. I know I am going to forget some of my BOP family that has always supported me, so please forgive me. I like to thank the following people for their encouragement and support: Stacy Abbott, Sterling Akins, Tammie Austin, Howard Barron, Teresa Barton, Bridgette Bass, Waylon and Lisa Boston, Trina Brown, Natalie Burke, Essie Burton, Judy Chambers, Tammy Clark-Hubbard, Angela Clay, Luchers Clayborn, Kimberly Cosen, Sarah Davis, Chandra Farris, Tracie Fenner, Kiyanna Flint, Anita Ford, Chaplain Louis Ford, Dexter Galberth, Sammie Hall, Kangit Hawkins, Boris Hunt, Paula Huskey, Sandra John, Bonita Jones, Johnnie Isom, Reda Kimble, Sherry Larry, Iva Lewis, Terry Lovell, Alice Lowe, Erskine McCreight, Kesha Millen, Charles Miller, Sandra Miller, Tim Moore, Michael Nash, Steven Norris, Terri Norviel, Linda Parker, Marilyn Phelix, Rodney Richardson, Susie Roberts, Wendy Roberts, Josie Rogers, Miriam Rolfe, TaRhonda Rolfe, Amy Ross, L. T. Simes III, Arma Smith, Yvonne Sparkmon, Tamarcus Talbert, Kim Taylor, Nathaniel Thomas, Chester Torry, Zaneta Vaughn, Deborah Walton, Jimmy Wilder, Joseph Williams, Patricia Williams, and Wilbur Williams.

I also want to thank the following individuals, churches, and organizations for believing in me and supporting me: My niece, Ciji Thurman; Phyllis McBride; Linda McGhee; Lisa Ward; Michael and Janet Peckham; Kenny and Annie Norman; Sabrina Martin; Lillie Sexton; Mary Massey; Sharon Council; Winfred and Lenora Winston; Pe’Tree James-Banks; Kevin and Cassandra Arnold; Sandra Taylor; Stanley and Doreen Johnson; Wayne and Phyllis Robinson; Gail Broadway; Avis Terrell; Shantique Brady; Gwendolyn West; Francis Chambers; Alice Williams; Marian Anderson; Diane Cottrell; Aaron Keith; Valerie Evans; Angela Lipsey; Katreasa C’Wright; Lammie Hamilton; First Historical Baptist Church in Millington, Tennessee; Lane Chapel CME Church in Forrest City, Arkansas; Paradise MB Church in Marianna, Arkansas; East Arkansas Community College in Forrest City, Arkansas; KCLT 104.9 FM of Helena-West Helena, Arkansas, and KAKJ 105.3 FM of Marianna, Arkansas; and the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Marianna Area Alumnae Chapter.

Finally, I want to thank the following people for supporting me and always planting a seed into my life: Toni Valencia, I will never be able to thank you enough for setting up and promoting my first book signing, also for your ministry, your prayers, and for always giving me a word of encouragement. I thank God for you. Keep on doing what you do. My cousins, Michelle Brown, Dornay Burks, Brenda Cook, Ketosha Harris-Anderson, Donna Howard, Ginia Lanes, Amber Lanes, Alanda Lockhart, and Teri Saddler. I appreciate all the love, prayers, support, and spiritual jewels you have given me that has greatly aided in my spiritual growth. Lord knows I needed it. I cannot forget about Robyn Bogan, Odetta Grant, Katrenia Dickerson, Yolanda Lee, Barbara Owens, Khalilah Sanders, Beverly Thurman, and Pastor Kristen C. Simpson. I have always appreciated you all for your encouragement and support. In fact, the world is waiting for some of you to write your story. I just thought I would put that in the atmosphere. The last person I would like to thank always refers to me as their mentor, but I strongly believe it is the other way around. Shamieka Dean, it has been fascinating to witness your growth as a woman of God, author, and inspirational speaker. I know you are going to continue to big and marvelous things. Thank you for everything. May God continue to bless and keep every last one of you.

THIS IS MY STORY

I strongly believe it is not an accident or coincidence that you purchase and/or read this book. I also strongly believe that no matter who you are, no matter what your race, gender, or beliefs are, you will get something out of this book.

My story is nothing to brag or boast about. It’s not even glamorous. In fact, many parts of my story are quite painful, at times difficult to write about. It is with great sadness to tell you there are some people in this world, family and friends alike, who wish no one read or heard my story.

In the process of telling my story, I never intended to put anyone on blast or throw darts and stones. Who am I to judge or point fingers at someone else? However, when you have something balled up inside you year after year after year, someone is going to get hurt when it does come out. Sometimes you end up hurting yourself. However, my aim has never been to hurt anyone or to get back at anyone for anything they have said or done to me.

Since I don’t like venting to someone else, I vent on paper. Sometimes, even though my writing brings my pain to the surface, it somehow eases the pain I have been dealing with for a vast majority of my life. There are some things in this life that you can live through but you don’t have to live with. I choose not to live with my painful past and the things that caused it to be that way. The past is past, and what you used to have me don’t have me anymore.

Before many of you read any part of my story, I was alive, but I was living without a purpose. I was among the living, walking the earth, and taking up valuable space. At least certain people and circumstances made me feel that way. It’s not a good feeling when people you thought loved and cared about you don’t acknowledge your existence or any contributions you have made in their lives. I felt that way for a very long time.

I recently celebrated another year on this earth, and I had someone to compliment me on my looks. They told me I look younger than my age. If this person knew half of the hell I have been through in my life, they would really be amazed. I can only thank God for helping me persevere when I was going through what I thought was hell on earth. Going through hell is a part of my story too.

Usually, on my days off from work, I would do a little work around the house and take a short trip out of town on one of the other days. This past weekend, I stayed at home reading, writing, meditating, and praying. The whole weekend, I thought about the first woman I fell in love with. That woman was my grandmother who raised me, Mrs. Lillie Bell Houston. That’s her on the cover of this book, along with me as a baby. I wish every woman was like my grandmother. Not only was she beautiful and had a big heart, but she also loved God. Every time I think of her, I can picture her reading the Holy Bible, praying, and singing songs praising him. I can remember how she felt. I was always close to my grandmother. She was the world to me. Oh, how I miss her so.

I once heard a preacher on television mention in his sermon a song I used to sing in church when I was a child. The title of the song is Blessed Assurance. The one part of the song that keeps playing around in my mind is this is my story / this is my song / praising my Savior / all the day long. I can hear my grandmother singing it now. As I kept replaying that in my head, I thought about my story. My story is just as important as anyone else’s. Who better to tell my story than me?

My friends, this is my life. This is my story. I do praise my Savior all the day long. Even though there are parts of my life that I am still ashamed of, still painful, and I still regret, I am still thankful. Most important, I am thankful I have Jesus Christ as my Savior.

Since I have revealed parts of my life or my story to the world, I have had some family members and friends to shun me, abandon me, write me off, excommunicate me, give me the cold shoulder, and walk out of my life. I am not going to sit here and tell all of you a lie. It hurt me real bad. I was depressed and mad at the world for a long time. I have reconciled with some of them, but there are others that can’t stand to see me or hear my voice. They don’t want me around because I fell out of love with the world and fell in love with Jesus. Some of them think I have gone crazy, that I have lost my mind. You know what, they are right. I have gone crazy. I have lost my mind. I am crazy about Jesus, and I have lost the state of mind I used to have. You can’t have a relationship with Jesus and remain the same person. There is going to be a change, and Jesus has made many changes in my life. Jesus changed my story.

Out of all that has transpired in my life in the last ten years, here is something I have learned: Every family has at least one. Every family has at least one person that has gone to prison or in prison. Every family has at least one secret they don’t want anyone else to know about. Every family has at least one member of the family that they are ashamed of. Every family has at least one person estranged from the family. Every family has at least one.

Furthermore, this is something else I have learned in the last ten years. When you have no family or friends in your corner or they deny your existence, you still have Jesus. When some of your friends abandon you or leave you hanging or when you have no friends at all, you still have Jesus. If you got fired or laid off from your job, you still have Jesus. If you have traveled down harm’s way and ended up on dysfunction junction, you still have Jesus. Jesus changed my story, and he can change yours too.

Allow Jesus in your life. Allow him somewhere within your dash. Make him apart of your story. Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine. He is yours too if you want him. Don’t allow people or your current situation silence your praise for him.

Sometimes when I think about all he has done for me, I can’t be still. I can’t be silent. I can’t dim the light within me. I guess that’s the reason some people believe I am crazy; I have lost my marbles. I am here to tell you, my elevator goes all the way up, and I still have good sense because of Jesus. He blesses me when I feel good; he blesses me when I feel bad. He blesses me so much I have lost count. The blessings keep piling up and overflowing. I am here to tell my story, and you are still here to read my story because of Jesus. Right now, you are not in the horizontal position facing the ceiling of a church or a mortuary because of Jesus.

Jesus is greater than the house I live in. Jesus is greater than the vehicles I own. Jesus is greater than any relationship I have with any other person. Jesus is everything I want. Jesus is everything I need. That’s why I chose to glorify and magnify his name. I can’t say his name enough. Jesus … Jesus … Jesus!

I used to regret telling my story because of all the people that has chosen not to be in my life. Now after all that has happen, I don’t have any. To have regrets about that would be like denying my Savior. Not only is Jesus Christ a savior or my savior, he is the Savior—the one and only Savior.

Hopefully, after you finish reading this book and the other books I hope to have published someday, you will know what my story is all about. I will make it easy for you and tell you now. My story, maybe your story, but my story is about Jesus. I don’t care how you try to twist it or straighten it out. My story is about Jesus. What is your story about?

Your testimony is a Cliff Note

for someone else to pass their test.

—God

195 LOCUST STREET

Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy GOD giveth thee.

—Exodus 20:12 (KJV)

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

—Proverbs 22:6 (KJV)

Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

—Proverbs 22:15 (KJV)

Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge. Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.

—Proverbs 23:12–14 (KJV)

It has been three weeks since I wrote a note. I have been very busy at work, making sure certain things were in order. I believe when this week is over, things will slow down. At least that is what I am hoping.

Not so long ago, a very good friend asked me how I deal with going to work, knowing I don’t want to be there. I will tell all of you what I told my good friend. Yes, it’s true. I am tired of where I work, and I don’t want to be there most of the time. However, where else can I go in the area I live in and make the kind of money I make? My friends, if you are familiar with where I live, you would know the list is very short. In fact, it is not even a list. That’s just how bad it is around here economically and jobwise. I thank God every day for the job I have and for my family to be able to live comfortably.

Another thing I told my good friend is, most of the time, my mind is on something and somewhere else besides the workplace. For those of you who don’t know, I work in a prison. I have been working in a prison for over twenty years. Twenty years is a long time to be constantly around some people that don’t care about themselves or others. Twenty years is a long time to be in the midst of chaos, confusion, drama, and disorder. Just like in society, there are rules and/or laws you are supposed to follow, yet some people choose to do otherwise. Prison is not always a pleasant place to be. For one to think so, that would make them institutionalized.

By the way, allow me to tell you what my mind is on most of the time. My mind is on 195 Locust Street. It is not just any place. It is the place I was raised as a child by my father’s parents in Marianna, Arkansas. It is located where people from Marianna call the North End.

It was my Goshen. Goshen is mentioned in the book of Genesis in the Old Testament. Goshen was an area in Egypt occupied by the Hebrews. If I am not mistaken, Goshen means cultivated land because it was—and still is—very fertile. Goshen was the land of plenty for the Hebrews, yet it was surrounded by the chaos, confusion, drama, and disorder that were going on in Egypt.

At this very moment, I am at work in a prison surrounded by chaos, confusion, drama, and disorder, but mind is at Goshen. My mind is at 195 Locust Street. I refuse to be consumed by this mess here. Truthfully, this is what this is—a mess. However, I can’t complain because this is the occupation I chose to do. No one made me do it, and everyone is not made for the job I have. The average correctional worker does not stay on the job past a year. That should tell you this is not a job for an average person.

My friends, I was very blessed to be loved and nurtured at 195 Locust Street in Marianna, Arkansas. I didn’t realized how blessed I was until I left after my high school graduation. At 195 Locust Street, I never missed a meal; it was my land of plenty. At 195 Locust Street, when I was a small child, Joy dishwashing liquid was used for washing the dishes, my hair, the car, and for bubble bath; it was the only place that does that. It was the world to me, 195 Locust Street, and I am not ashamed of it. My grandparents were big ballin’ off their monthly Social Security checks and food stamps, which wasn’t that much. For those of you that are not familiar with the word ballin’, that means you are living swell and well. I didn’t realize we were considered to be living below the poverty line until I left home. I can honestly say we lived well when you consider the income that was coming into our home. For me, while I was growing up, 195 Locust Street was the place to be, my refuge, my sanctuary, my place of peace and serenity. It was also the first place I heard and knew about Jesus Christ. My grandparents ensured that was going to happen.

Can I ask all of you a question? Have you ever wondered why God, a Father that loves you very much, would allow you to be in the midst of chaos, confusion, drama, and disorder? I believe I know the answer. Agitation is a part of his plan for your elevation. Don’t get me wrong. I am not saying God is the author of confusion because he is not. What I am saying is sometimes, he is an agitator.

I wrote about this subject approximately seven years ago. I am pretty sure most of you reading this own a washer or washing machine. Most washers have an agitator inside the washtub. The agitator is what helps get your clothes clean. Just imagine if you were inside of a washer as the agitator is tossing the clothes around in the washtub. There will be a lot of chaos, confusion, drama, and disorder. You are going to go through periods of washing, rinsing, and spinning. However, when you go through the final cycle—the permanently blessed cycle—you are going to come out clean and smelling good when it’s over. So right now, this period of agitation I am going through is a part of his plan for my elevation out of my current situation. In the meantime, I am going to stay focused on two things I was taught on 195 Locust Street:

• Rule No. 1: Stay focused on him

• Rule No. 2: Don’t forget about rule no. 1

At the beginning and the end of each day you live, that’s all that really matters. Stay focused on Jesus and not the people and things that may be going on around you.

I thank God I am not like some people. Some people get blessed and are blessed and forget about the blessor. I know blessor is not a word, but I am sure you know who I am talking about. Some people get elevated and forget about where they come from and about who have helped them along their way. I can never forget about all of the people who have really been there for me and have continued to believe in me. I can never forget about my foundation. My foundation was established on 195 Locust Street in Marianna, Arkansas.

My friends, not a day goes by that I don’t think about James and Lillie Bell Houston. Not a day goes by that I don’t wish they were still here. God gave me the greatest grandparents a child could ever have. I thank God for my grandparents. I thank God for placing me in their household. I thank God for my upbringing. I thank God for all the trials and tribulations I have been through. I thank God I was raised in Marianna, Arkansas. I thank God for allowing me to be nurtured at the small white house on a hill at 195 Locust Street. Love you always, Grandpa and Momma.

Don’t feel bad. Most great people

are misunderstood.

—God

THERON… WHERE ARE YOU?

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy GOD: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee with thy right hand of my righteousness.

—Isaiah 41:10 (KJV)

I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

—John 14:18 (KJV)

And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of GOD. Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.

—Luke 6:20–22 (KJV)

Lately, I have been enjoying some much-needed and well-deserved time off from work. It has given me time to take care of some things around my home and just to ease my mind. My mind needed a break from the hustle and bustle at work.

Last night, I started to read again a book a dear cousin of mine published a few years ago titled Bible Characters Inside Me! By the way, her name is Teri Saddler, and her book is very profound, timeless, and will make you reevaluate your life and the way you are living it. In one chapter in the book, she talked about Joseph, the son of Jacob. Some of you may refer to him as Joseph the dreamer. When I read what she wrote, it was like she had written my story. I also told her that on more than one occasion. When I read this book for the first time a few years ago, it really broke me down because I felt like this is my story right here. I could really relate to some of her story and some of her struggles. Last night, as I was reading her book, I almost broke down again.

Some of you just don’t realize or understand. When you feel like you are misunderstood, it can cause you to feel lonely. Sometimes you don’t know who you can turn to or trust. I will admit I do have some trust issues, and I am trying to overcome them. However, when you have been lied to and betrayed as many times as I have, it’s kind of hard to do. When I happen to run across someone I can trust, it doesn’t matter if they are male or female, I try to hold on to them or at least until their season is up in my life.

Earlier this morning, I texted my cousin and told her I believe someone just ordered her book. She asked how I knew. I told her I posted some information about her book on Facebook, and someone stated they were purchasing it. She went on to thank me for supporting her, for which I was more than flattered to do.

That’s one thing about me. I don’t mind supporting other people for a good cause. I have learned and experienced when you bless and help people, people and God will bless and help you. Furthermore, I told my cousin I posted some information about her book on my Facebook wall because there is another Teri out there somewhere, and they needed to hear and know her story.

I know there are many people that will not be able to relate or understand my cousin’s story because they have not been through what she has been through. Today, I have been asking myself this one question: Theron … where are you? I know my name is Theron, but I am not talking about myself. I am talking about all the Therons out there that can relate to my story. They can relate to and understand my story because my story is their story.

I know there is a Theron out there who is dealing with depression and low self-esteem. I know there is a Theron out there that is confined by guilt and shame. I know there is a Theron out there somewhere who feels like all is lost, who feels like they don’t have anyone they can turn to, who feels unloved. Theron … where are you? I hope my story—your story, our story—get to you in time.

Theron, I don’t know if you are male or female, African-American, Caucasian, or Hispanic. I don’t if you live somewhere in Africa, Asia, or Europe, but I do know you are out there somewhere. Theron … where are you? Where could you possibly be?

Theron, if you happen to be reading this right now, I know how you feel. I know what you are dealing with. I know what you are going through. I know how it feels to be given up on. I know how it feels to be given the cold shoulder by most of the people you thought you could depend on. I know how it feels to be neglected and rejected. I know how it feels to be persecuted and ostracized. I know all of that and more because I have lived our story and still living some of it right now.

Theron, wherever you are, I know you have been disappointed in yourself and in other people. I know you have been stepped on, stomped on, and trampled on every time when others see you down. However, Theron, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. There is a rock at your bottom. Theron, that light and that rock is Jesus Christ.

You have probably heard that before, but you need to trust me on this one. After all, I have lived and currently living certain aspects of our story. Theron … where are you?

You may not believe this, Theron, but I think about you often. In fact, I think about you every day. Every now and then, I have shed many tears for you because I know how it is to be you.

I have been in the wilderness before. I have been through the fire on more than one occasion. I have experienced many storms, worrycanes, sin-namis, and blu-namis. I have been attacked by messquitoes, wreckcoons, and blockroaches. Every now and then, I have a case of the whine flu and the mess now virus. I am ashamed to tell you this, but I lived in Egypt for a good part of my life too.

Furthermore, I have something else I want to tell you that I know you will find hard to believe. Not so long ago, I had a talk with Jesus Christ. I was going through some things and had the urge to go back to Egypt. I asked him for some help, and he gave it to me. He gave me a blood transfusion and put one characteristic of a rhinoceros into my spiritual DNA. I know you are wondering what characteristic I am talking about. Well, rhinoceros are very strong yet have poor vision. Also, anatomically, they can’t move backward. They are only going to move forward. Theron, right now, I can’t go backward. I can only move forward. It’s all because of Jesus. I plan to stay free now that I am free. I can’t go back to Egypt. Egypt and I don’t get along. We are like oil and water; we don’t mix well. If you are in Egypt, Theron, it’s time to pack up and move out; just make sure you leave behind doubt, misery, and pity. You will have to put one foot in front of the other and don’t look back. Don’t look back because there is not anyone or anything there for you.

Helloooo … Theron, are you out there somewhere? I know you are. You have to be. You need to be. Theron, there are some people out there that love you, care about you, and need you. Don’t give up. Don’t give in. Don’t give out. I know you have been hurt and probably still hurting. Theron, Jesus Christ is the answer to all of your life’s questions. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. He is the Good Shepherd that will guide and protect his sheep, even the ones that feel like they are lost.

Theron, you will find your freedom, your emancipation, your liberation, in your situation in Jesus Christ and in the Word of God. The Word of God is the original Emancipation Proclamation.

Theron, where are you? I hope you get this message. I hope you are able to read my story, your story, our story. I don’t know where you are or who you are, but I do care about you. If I didn’t, I would have never taken the time to write and tell our story. If I didn’t care about you and your soul, I would have never told you about Jesus Christ.

I don’t know who you are or where you are, but Jesus do. Theron, call on him, and he will give you strength, he will make you free, and he will see you through. You can always count on him and trust him because he is always faithful. He never sleeps. He never slumbers. Stay encouraged, Theron, and call on him. Call on him right now.

It’s never been about you.

—God

A HIGHER CALLING

Dear God,

I hope you are not too busy; I just want a few minutes of your time. I know it has been a while since I last wrote you, but I want you to know I am always thinking of you and very thankful for what you have done for me.

God, when I got up this morning preparing to go to work, I was feeling kind of down. I went to bed last night with a lot on my mind. I really felt like giving up. I felt like giving up on some things I have been trying to accomplish, even though you gave me the vision to pursue it. You have never lied to me, but I did not realize the struggle to live a righteous life would be so difficult sometimes.

I am fighting a war every day, and I sometimes feel like I am in this fight all by myself. You know in warfare, some people are going to live and make it through, and some will perish. I have witness a lot of people give up and perish, physically and spiritually.

This morning, I dreaded going to work. I did not want to talk to anyone or be there at all. It has gotten to the point I feel out of place where I

Reviews for This Is My Story

[A.R Jones · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I'll find the book. I know Therin. He was a counselor at FCI Forrest City. I was there. He made an everlasting impression on me. He wasn't like the rest of the staff. This guy was genuine. It appears that there is a lot more to Theron, then I'd ever have guessed.