The Struggle Within

By Abraham Harris III

The Struggle Within tells the journey of a young man struggling between what he knew was right and the world he lived in that contradicted what he knew, how he felt the pressure and lost himself in others and his struggle to get back to what he knew was right.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Oct 21, 2019
• ISBN: 9781641144087

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The Struggle Within

Abraham Harris III

Copyright © 2019 by Abraham Harris III

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Foreword by Courtney Marks

Ican remember going into my dad’s office to ask him if he had gotten re-married. It had been a lingering question of mine after a couple of observations that my husband and I had made after our last few visits with him. When I asked him, with hesitation and uncertainty of what would happen next, he said yes. This had been a painful subject and transition for our family because of things that had happened over the years and delicate information like this was something that he may have felt would set us back. Though he thought that this would be the end of mending our relationship, little did he know I stepped into that office with one motive—to forgive. As one of his children, I only caught the latter part of a struggle that had been going on long before I was thought of. Hurt by a lot of things, I did what my immature mind thought best to do: I judged and condemned him. But now, I am getting to see firsthand what forgiveness can do! The struggle within is one man’s confession of the heart to his readers to point them towards healing as well as forgiveness of one’s self and others. Through confession and encouragement, he invites you to pay attention to what is going on inside of yourself. Do not ignore what needs to be dealt with, and do not reject help because the price of it could be costly. I am proud of my dad for releasing this delicate information and allowing his inner struggle to come out on paper for other wounded souls to be led to a place of healing. Even more, I am elated to know that though some of these personal wounds that he is allowing to be picked at may reveal a fresh layer of exposed skin, this is not his story, it has yet to be written. This is only his manuscript! I hope you enjoy and get all that you need from the first installment of The Struggle Within by Abraham Harris III.

Foreword by Cory Knowland

Friendship is so often misunderstood and misused in our current culture. It’s appears more now like a virtual connection based on collecting a bunch of other names and connections of people who many times have never actually met. You know the outlets, the social media giants. Just push the little blue thumb button and now you’re friends. You can look into the visible, the presented lives and experiences of these other friends, sometimes having never breathed the same oxygen in the same room. It wants to be authentic, but it can’t.

Then there is true friendship built on interactive community one with another, face to face, interacting, arguing, eating, aging, laughing, and crying together. These are relationships that can disagree and be okay. One can prosper and others truly celebrate. Pain happens and the others share in it willingly. There is a covenant in those friendships that go beyond words. There is a trust and faithfulness that goes beyond region and location. It can be separated for days, weeks, months, or more and reconnect as if they were never parted. It’s this kind of friendship I have with Abraham Harris III (three sticks).

As I have read this book and reflected on our friendship, I am honored to call him my dear friend. Through the reflections of his father and mother’s influence on his life; his openness and vulnerability about career, lifestyle, the great times as well as the setbacks through those times; and as he has shared living out faith in Jesus Christ while even being persecuted for it in the church, I see a man who has walked through the shadow of death, sometimes by his own doing, and found grace, life, and favor in the arms of Jesus. Our backgrounds are different, our cultural references are varied, and our personal experiences are unique, yet we are brothers of different mothers in the truest sense.

I have done life with Abe for almost twenty years through multiple challenges, business ventures, huge disappointments, great triumphs, change and setbacks in both our lives. He has reflected Jesus very well, and impacted mine and thousands of lives directly and indirectly for years now. God has shown him favor and given him influence in ways many work an entire lifetime to attain. The Lord has allowed Abe tremendous and varied experience, and given him the wisdom in how to apply that to make a difference in the lives around him and beyond. He has discovered balance as a man, father, husband, pastor, and politician, and shares that as well as evolving areas of growth. If we all would be as open, honest, and truthful about ourselves, so much offense and hatred could be avoided. As you read this book; as you consider his honesty, his thoughts and experiences, look to the God he looks to. Consider, as he has, the impact one life can make, and maybe step in faith towards impacting the world you have been planted in one person at a time. I believe there are no coincidences. And with that, it’s no coincidence you are holding this manuscript in your hand right now. We all have a struggle within. What will you do with yours?

Cory Knowland

Acknowledgements

To my true friend Cory and his wonderful wife Cathy. I never knew what a real friend was until I met you. Thank you for being a friend and not a judge.

To Lane and Marsha, your guidance and love changed my life. I love you.

To my siblings David (Brenda), Linda (Louis), Pearl and Terry (Doris). There is nothing better than brothers and sisters, that have each other’s back. You guys are the best family I could have asked for. If not for you guys, I would not be at this point.

To my children Ashly, AJ, Chris, Akeem, and Courtney. What can I say, you are my heart! No one can express what you mean to me. No matter the situation, I will carry you always!

To my extended children Monique, Tourelle, and Isaiah. I pray that I somehow made a difference in your lives as you did in mine.

To my church family Mt. Zion and The City of David. You mean so much to me, we have not seen the best yet.

Very special thanks,

To my mom and dad for your guidance and for living the truth before us. I thank you for your belief in me. I love you more than words can say.

To my wife Evonne Taylor-Harris; it took a while but I found you. We have dealt with a lot and I appreciate you being a friend. As we grow together, I pray we grow in grace. Thank you for always believing in me. You are right there getting dirty with me, helping me to fulfill the vision! I love and appreciate you for that. We have many obstacles; however, we have the strength of being tried and going through that fire! I love you.

Finally, to God my father, to Jesus Christ my savior. From the beginning, you chose me. You have watched over me even when I chose wrong over right. You have loved me and forgave me, "For all your blessings, I thank you; I give everything to you!

I would like to dedicate this book to my father, Abraham Harris, Jr.

Rare. When I think of my home life growing up with my family, rare is the word that comes to mind. My father was born April 15, 1937 and he passed away on February 16, 2004. In those years, he had a close-to-perfect walk on this earth. In my opinion, he was tough but fair, strong yet very compassionate. He taught me to be a good person, to take people as they come no matter who they are. The lesson I learned the most from him did not require words. So many men respected him, even his opposition. To this day, you still hear nothing but wonderful things about him.

Dad, you taught me to fly. You told me to walk not run. You were always there to pick me up and correct me in wrong. People that knew you say to me, He was the best, a real man! Dad, you are someone that was rare!

Chapter 1

Innocence of a Child

For as long as I can remember I have had great and positive influences in my life. My parents were honest, hardworking, disciplinarians, incredibly loving, supportive. The list alone could fill up three chapters. I am the youngest of five; I have four great siblings—two brothers and two sisters and we are as close as close can be. Even though for a long time they told me I was left on my mom and dad’s doorstep.

The great thing about Arizona is that it is a desert! We lived in an all-black community just south of the town, now city, of Buckeye and man did we have fun! There was dirt and plenty of junk to build what we needed to entertain ourselves. There was an open field that we would transform until the seasons changed. It was a football field, track and field, (we used the old tires as our hurdles), a baseball field, and a basketball court. There was a building that used to be called the Educational Building. We tore out the spokes on our bicycles and made rims, put them up, and boom—full-court gym.

My father was a bishop and my mother an evangelist. The hard part was the church! Man, it felt like we lived there every night. If you have ever been to a Pentecostal revival, then you know what I mean. I did manage to have some fun. However, a bug hit me and I started beating on everything that I could. I would bang on boxes, cans, hub caps, anything I could. The hub caps were my cymbals, coffee can my tom tom, box floor tom, and steal chair my snare. I did that for so long until I found