In June 1995, my life plunged into its darkest hour. When I discovered that my husband’s mistress was pregnant and about to give birth, our marriage shattered completely. On July 6, he beat me so severely that I was taken to the hospital. The next day, we signed a divorce agreement, but he secretly altered the terms and even took the promissory note meant to cover the debts he should have assumed, forcing me to begin gathering evidence.
The deepest blow came in October. A friend had taken me on a short trip to ease my mind, and when I returned, I found my young daughter covered with bruises. Terrified, I rushed her to the emergency room and realized that I had to get my children and myself out of that dangerous home. After filing a police report, we were placed in a shelter run by the Good Shepherd Foundation. That first night, as I held my children, I felt true safety for the very first time. It was as if angels were guarding us, a feeling that formed an enduring bond between me, the Good Shepherd Foundation, and the Catholic Church.
Good Shepherd offered us thoughtful, all-around warmth, care, support, and companionship. The social workers, at personal risk, helped me take my son and escape the home that was hurting us, giving the three of us, a mother and her children, a safe, reassuring place to stay. Even more important, Good Shepherd arranged professional counseling for me and my daughter. Through play therapy, picture books, and art therapy, they slowly helped mend her shattered, wounded heart, becoming the strength she would later draw on to face the world.
Legal assistance was just as crucial. The social workers connected me with attorneys, taught me how to collect evidence and keep medical reports documenting injuries. In the end, we won the case, gained custody of the children, and secured stable housing. Good Shepherd was not just a temporary refuge; it taught me how to stand up again and face life’s challenges.
Three sources sustained me through the lowest point. First, the women I met in the shelter, many had faced even heavier burdens. Hearing their stories, I realized I was not the most unfortunate, and I learned to shift my perspective. Second, the strength my children gave me, looking into their innocent eyes, I knew I had to be strong. Third, the Catholic faith I encountered through Good Shepherd, my life began to change. Faith taught me to meet everyone with a grateful heart. I firmly believe all of this was God’s loving arrangement. In my hardest moments, He gave me strength and companionship, and I learned to bravely shoulder the financial load and the responsibility of raising my children.
Looking back on that difficult growth, I see it as a special refining granted by Heaven. Without that painful “training,” I wouldn’t be the independent person I am today, able to face the storms with courage. Having personally experienced the transformation Good Shepherd brought to my life, I know well what it means to be caught and held in the dark. Now I donate to the Good Shepherd Foundation to pass this great love forward, because I know: “A hand in the darkness can change a person’s life.”
Finally, from my own experience I want to tell everyone: “The darkness will pass. So long as you don’t give up, anyone can be like a phoenix, reborn from the ashes.” I am living proof of that today.
