From Welfare to Faring Well: Hang in There

By Phyllis M. Williams

At seventeen, Phyllis found her dreams crumbling when teen pregnancy led to early responsibilities, loneliness, and ultimately, welfare. But she didn’t stop there.

This fervent love story of a mother and child who walked together through the storms of life—and learned to fly above them—will teach and inspire you to keep going.

“Many times, we are faced with challenges, trials, and sudden storms,” says the author. “They come to make us strong—and if you hang in there, the sun will shine again.”

Get up, out, over, and on your way today.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Sep 15, 2018
• ISBN: 9781984553768

Phyllis M. Williams

Phyllis M. Williams presently serves as principal of Tidwell Elementary School in the North Forest Independent School District of Houston, Texas, where she began her career in education punching lunch cards in cafeteria. Determined to rise from poverty with her infant son, as a single mom she attended Houston Community College and Texas Southern University, completing her Masters of Education at the University of Houston. Phyllis has been recognized as an outstanding principal, teacher, and mentor at the state and local levels. She lives near her grown son and family in Houston, Texas.

Book preview

Copyright © 2018 by Phyllis M. Williams.

ISBN:           Softcover           978-1-9845-5371-3

                     eBook                978-1-9845-5376-8

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Website

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 09/14/2018

Xlibris

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

785308

CONTENTS

Preface

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1 Babygirl

Chapter 2 High School Hijinks

Chapter 3 Trouble

Chapter 4 Deliverance

Chapter 5 Pity City

Chapter 6 Heels to Wheels

Chapter 7 Wings

Epilogue

PREFACE

Looking back over my life from the vantage point of today, I find that Romans 8:28 has become more real to me than ever. The simple promise in this powerful Scripture verse says this:

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good to those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

(NLT)

The Bible doesn’t say everything is going to be good. It says that everything is going to work together for good. Many times while growing up I didn’t understand why things happened the way they did, but two things I knew then and still know now are these: that God is on His throne in heaven and He loves us very much.

If the truth of these two givens in life grows stronger in you as you read these pages that unfold some of my life experiences––showing how I got up, out, over and out of the crushing power of poverty by the power of God Almighty, my purpose will have been fully served.

The Lord bless you as you ponder what He’s done for me and what He can and will certainly do for you too…

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

For the great things He has done for me I earnestly thank my God. I thank Him for giving me my sweet son and for sparing our lives when we stood in harm’s way. I thank Him for protection so many times and, as His Word promises, for keeping us in all of our ways.

Through good, bad, and difficult times, I acknowledge to all that I was never alone, despite how I felt or what I went through. "Lord, in all this You were there providing for and guiding me. Thank you for taking what Satan meant for evil toward me and making it all good."

I dedicate this book to my darling son, Garland. He is the greatest blessing of my life. No experience or earthly treasure in this world can compare to the love I have for this child, now a grown man. Because of him I know what it feels like to love someone and for someone to love me back.

"Sweet son, when you read this book, I want you to know that you have brought me nothing but joy. In fact, I don’t have any regrets whatsoever in regard to you. The love just grows daily. Even now, the thought of you brightens my day. So, whatever I have gone through in life to this point, and whatever happens next, I want you to know that the sight, or even the mere thought of you, makes it all worthwhile. When I think of you I blink my eyes three times, and only you know what each blink means. I love you so much, and hope this blesses you."

I thank my daughter-in-law, my sweet girl, for the beautiful person she is and for taking care of my son. I knew you were special the first day I laid eyes on you! You have been a great blessing to our family, Courtney, and our love for you knows no bounds. Thank you, my dear sweet girl.

I would also like to thank my best friend, Vanessa, for keeping all of my secrets and for always being loyal, kind, and trustworthy. Throughout my journey Vanessa has remained a friend in every sense of the word. Never once did she judge me but accepted me for who I was, never trying to change me. She stood by me in good times and bad. To this day she remains a person who loves God, respects herself, and loves me. Vanessa, as the song says you truly are, My Girl.

I thank my mother and my sister, Cookie, for helping me throughout my life. Truly, I could not have made it without you. Thank you both––greatly and sincerely.

Special thanks to Bugger, Boobie, Thedy, and Tinker. Thanks for helping me grow up––and for growing up with me. I love you all very