BLESSINGS, FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND BELOVED. MY PRAYER IS THAT THIS BOOK TOUCHED YOU IN PLACES THAT YOU HAVE NOT BEEN TOUCHED BEFORE. BEING A PERSON GROWING UP IN A CHALLENGED CHILDHOOD HAS HAD MY SHARE OF PHYSICAL, SPIRITUAL, AND HIDDEN SCARS. I WAS ONE OF THE ONES WHO WALKED AROUND WITH SCARS ON THEM, AND I SUPPRESSED THEM BY SUCCUMBING TO DRUGS AND GANG AFFILIATION. THE REALITY IS THAT I HAD UNCHECKED TRAUMA THAT I HAD NOT DEALT WITH, SO THE RESULT IS THAT MY TRAUMA GREW WITH ME UNTIL LATER IN MY ADULTHOOD. MY SPOUSE AT THE TIME CHALLENGED ME TO GO SEE A COUNSELOR BECAUSE WHAT I NEEDED WAS A HEALTHY CONFRONTATION TO DEAL WITH THE LITTLE BOY INSIDE OF ME THAT HAD NEVER BEEN HEALED. MY PURPOSE WAS TO MINISTER TO YOUR SOUL WHERE YOU CAN, TOO, BE ON THE ROAD TO SPIRITUAL RECOVERY. REMEMBER, BELOVED FAMILY:

"GOD WANTS TO HEAL YOU EVERYWHERE YOU HURT"