Humble Grace Love!: Inspirational Soul Food! Volume No. 1

By Free-Man

In spite of constantly dealing with his disability, it was a whole new ball game when he woke up paralyzed from the neck down, the very next day after venturing out on his own, relocating from Detroit, Michigan, to Carson, California. Armed, sometimes only with his faith in God’s love, he overcame his life’s struggles, and lived an amazing life. He got married (twice), has two beautiful twin daughters, although specialist told him with all probability he most likely would never be a father, because of what the physical evidence showed. As he looks back over his life he says, “Well, the doctors were partly right, he didn’t have a child, he’s blessed to have two, he tells them, “Their his miracle babies born from, “Mustard Seed Faith, by way of God’s Love, Amazing Grace, and His undeserved Mercy!” Later he became an entrepreneur, starting three successful Home-Based Businesses, and assisted in filing paperwork to establish a 501-C3 nonprofit organization, that he named, “Showers of Blessing,” which feeds the homeless, shares an encouraging short message, and prays with individuals that ask. Gregory is an example to others as they see miracles, through God’s Love in action; causing them to draw on a deeper level of hope within, and believe in God’s living-breathing-active word; God’s Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: May 28, 2021
• ISBN: 9781664233690

Free-Man

Unfortunately, he’s experienced racism first hand, survived Colon Cancer surgery, spent more time in the hospital than at home, due to having broken bones (fractured) most of his early childhood. He was born with Osteogenesis-Imperfecta OI, sometimes known as brittle bone disease, or “Lobstein syndrome” is a congenital bone disorder-lack of calcium. Raised by a single mother, who did her very best to care for two disabled sons, she picked up the slack for an absentee father. You’ll hear more details later on in the book, about how his hurt turned to anger as he got older, but God’s love healed his brokenness through this, and many other life changing events. Which he now shares in his sermons to inspire, plus encourage those who are weak in the faith, that have an ear to hear the holy spirit speaking directly to them each time he preaches, or sings praises unto the Lord most high in the eye of the storm.

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Copyright © 2021 Free-Man, G.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

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Bloomington, IN 47403

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

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.

Interior Image Credit: Larsie Mae Freeman

Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973 1978 1984 2011 by Biblica, Inc. TM. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

ISBN: 978-1-6642-3368-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-3369-0 (e)

WestBow Press rev. date: 05/26/2021

Contents

Introduction

Dedications

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Chapter 1 The Howling Dogs!

Chapter 2 I Want to go home!

Chapter 3 The Separation!

Chapter 4 Now There’s Four!

Chapter 5 God Provides Signs Along Our Journey-Spiritual GPS!

Chapter 6 Paralyzed!

Chapter 7 Why Me?

Chapter 8 Accepting the Call!

Chapter 9 There Will Be Showers of Blessings!

Chapter 10 God ‘s Amazing Grace!

Chapter 11 Miracles!

Chapter 12 Weak, Say I Am Strong!

Chapter 13 Falsely Accused!

Chapter 14 I know A Man!

About the Author

Introduction

Gregory was born with Osteogenesis imperfecta OI and sometimes known as brittle bone disease, or "Lobstein syndrome" is a congenital bone disorder-lack of calcium. Prior to his family learning what the root cause of persistent bone breakage was, resulting from the simplest of actions like just walking along, he was taken to be examined by a bone (Pediatric Doctor) specialist; later reading explains the unexpected mental impact of that single office visit. As time went on it brought with it more fractures, surgeries, plus many more back-to-back long months hospital stays flat on his back in traction, with heavy weights attached to a rope, and the rope attached to his leg; a common treatment widely used in the 60’s. Unfortunately, the slightest falls, normal play time with cousins, or alone activities usually resulted in repeated fractures as well. Once while already wearing a cast from fracturing his leg, merely attempting to readjust himself as not to get bed sores, he fractured the other leg, and ended up in a full body cast with a bar in the middle; including a couple of holes cut into it for restroom privileges.

In 1981 shortly after moving to California Gregory woke up one morning completely paralyzed from the neck down, he explained to the emergency room staff that the actual systems had started the day before, his cousin had taken him to Martin Luther King Hospital at that point in time, but after laying in the hallway on a gurney waiting to be seen after four-five hours, much later they sent him home without any type of diagnosis, nor reason of explanation. Gregory never complained about experiencing the high level of pain as a child, associated with breaking a bone, neither did he during his adolescent, pre-teen, or early adulthood, and even now as a grandfather. While still a child different doctors would often bring other doctors, or med students into his room to show off his patient who was in his family who was born with Osteogenesis imperfecta. On some days, the doctor asked if he was sad, depressed, or wanted to speak with a psychiatrist to help cope, knowing the negative affect all of this can take on a person mentally, and emotionally as well. However, Gregory’s reply was always the same, No that’s okay, my mother told me I didn’t have to be afraid, or ever feel like I was alone, because Jesus would always be right by my side to help me get through anything I faced! That was good enough for him to believe, besides Gregory knew his Mommy was coming back to see him the very next day.

Mr. Freeman overcame his disability to live an amazingly productive (meaningful) life, graduating high school, took a few courses at Citrus College, passed the exam to become a licensed Insurance Agent. Gregory has also worked as a Loan Officer for a Mortgage Company, Office Manager in Covina, CA on Shoppers Lane, and later in his life he also was employed by a Bank (Irvine, CA) just to name only a couple. Much later he got married, has twin daughters (we will learn why he calls them his Miracle babies), he proudly says he feels very blessed to also have many other children too (Stepchildren but he never uses that term, nor feels those words in his heart). If that’s not enough, Gregory became an entrepreneur by starting SON-RISE Janitorial Services, plus three other Home-Based Businesses, and assisted his very good friends in filing paperwork to establish a 501-C3 nonprofit organization he helped named, that reaches out to homeless veterans, single women with children, men, boys, girls, including anyone in need of a warm meal, or wanting to take a warm shower, and volunteers frequently at a Rescue Mission. Up until recently he was on the Board of Directors at the church where he, and his wife had joined after recoating out of state with the company he use to work. Mr. Freeman genuinely enjoys teaching Sunday, singing in the choir, working with the youth, and building different projects like a two-story cardboard house (with its furniture). Currently he is offering specialty t-shirts with matching caps-mask through his online store, Humble Grace Love Apparel! Gregory takes a breath and says, "I don’t consider myself disabled, but more than able to do all things through Jesus Christ Who strengthens me. Please do not get me wrong, I vividly remember during a season of growth (testing) when I did not even have the emotional (spiritual) ability to get out of bed for three days straight, but normally I am not the one sitting around with the mindset of woes is me. Not due to (as some would proclaim) my faith being so strong, but it’s at that one set of footprints in the sand times it’s God’s faithful love carrying!" On occasion very few will ask Gregory why he is in a wheelchair? But generally, it is not him being in a wheelchair that grabs most people’s attention. Mr. Freeman spreads the message of God’s love to all those around him, everyone seems to be drawn first to his contagious smile, then they pick up on a sense of the strength inside him, and they become fully aware of his dependency on the One Who made him! Gregory’s testimony reminds us that regardless of the circumstance (against all odds), when we are lost in a sense of hopefulness God’s presence will never leave us alone, He’s understanding, forgiving, and will provide all we need to take away the deep empty pain inside, making us fully whole, complete in every way not lacking any good thing.

Gregory shares openly about his life’s struggles, emotional scars received through battles of depression, low-self-esteem, never feeling good enough, being an introvert hiding behind a smile, recovering from a broken heart, which he says hurt more than any broken bone he’s ever had, leading to victories from childhood to adulthood. Gregory offers us real life experiences, with hidden nuggets of wisdom through God’s pure love, just like finding pure gold on a treasure hunt. Gregory further explains how he finds a new hope, a new strength, a new joy, a new praise, a new song, a new trust, a new hunger, a