When Pain Becomes Purpose
From Loss to Purpose: How My Struggles Became the Foundation for Serving Children
Throughout my life, I have experienced many kinds of loss. I have lost people I loved, faced eviction, gone through broken relationships, lost jobs, and experienced challenges in business. Every loss hurt, but every loss also taught me something.
There were times when I cried and wondered why I had to experience so much. Eventually, I realized I had a choice: I could allow what happened to me to define me, or I could learn from it and allow it to develop me.
I chose development.
Changing the Way I Saw Myself
One important step in my growth was surrounding myself with a healthier community. I also began learning how our thoughts, beliefs, and words can influence the direction of our lives.
The greatest transformation came when I began examining myself. I realized that I could allow history to repeat itself and continue living according to familiar patterns, or I could challenge myself and pursue the destiny Abba says is mine.
That changed everything.
Instead of defining myself by my losses, failures, or painful experiences, I began seeing myself through Abba's eyes. As my thinking changed, the way I viewed other people also changed.
I began becoming the woman Abba was calling me to be. I learned to depend on the strength, wisdom, compassion, and purpose He had already placed within me.
The Loss That Made Me Search for Purpose
One of the greatest turning points in my life was losing my mother.
My mother was my shelter and my help. After losing her, I had to look deeply at my life and ask myself, "There has to be more to my life than this. What am I here for?"
Over time, part of the answer became clear through children.
I remembered what it felt like to be a child who learned differently. Children with ADHD, behavioral challenges, artistic abilities, or different learning styles can sometimes be misunderstood.
When children do not fit neatly into traditional learning environments, adults may focus on their behavior without taking the time to understand what the behavior is communicating.
A child may be labeled difficult when that child is overwhelmed. A highly active child may be called bad when that child needs movement and direction. A creative child may appear distracted when that child processes information differently.
I do not want another child to feel rejected, overlooked, or left behind simply because they learn differently.
The Purpose Behind Kingdom Kids
That realization became part of the heart behind Kingdom Kids Empowerment Center.
My purpose is not simply to watch children while their parents work. I want to help develop children during some of the most important years of their lives.
I want children to discover their abilities, develop independence, build character, learn to express themselves, and understand that being different does not mean something is wrong with them.
A child with ADHD is not a broken child. A highly active child is not automatically a bad child. An artistic or creative child may simply understand and experience the world differently.
Sometimes children need someone patient enough to discover how they learn instead of constantly telling them that the way they learn is wrong.
Families also need support. Parents may be balancing work, finances, family responsibilities, and the needs of a child who requires additional patience or understanding. Childcare providers should work alongside families rather than make them feel judged or alone.
That is where I believe Father has called me to serve.
What Our Children Need From Us
Working with children has taught me that leadership in early childhood education begins with relationships.
Before we can properly guide a child, we must take time to understand that child. We must look beyond behavior and ask questions:
- What is this child trying to communicate?
- How does this child learn?
- What makes this child feel safe?
- What strengths are hidden behind the behavior?
Children need structure, but they also need patience. They need correction, but they also need encouragement. They need adults who can see their potential before they are able to see it for themselves.
When we identify and build upon a child's strengths, differences that once appeared to be weaknesses can become powerful abilities.
Building Something From the Pain
When I look back, I can see that some of the experiences that caused me the greatest pain also developed something within me.
- Loss developed compassion.
- Hardship developed perseverance.
- Rejection taught me the importance of helping others feel accepted.
- Being misunderstood helped me recognize children who are also misunderstood.
I cannot change everything that happened in my past, but I can decide what I build from it.
- I am building a place where children can be seen and understood.
- I am building a place where differences can become strengths.
- I am building a place where families can receive support.
- Most importantly, I am building a place where children can begin discovering who Father created them to be.
My struggle became my lesson.
My lesson became my growth.
My growth became my purpose.
