Healed On My Way: My Journey of Healing and Restoration

Jefferson-Burriel

Chapter One

Hello World

I entered into this life on November 14, 1981 at 6:05 p.m. at the Schumpert Medical Center in Shreveport, LA. I was born to Samuel Ray Cobb and Sherry Denise Jefferson, two people struggling for their identity and longing for love. I was told that the relationship between my parents was a rather good one despite the challenges they faced in their personal lives.

Before my mother became aware of her expectancy, her and my father decided to part ways, for various reasons of which I’m still unsure. She, only 19 at the time, and he only 20 were both at critical points within their lives. Although they didn’t part ways in a bitter fashion they failed to ever reconnect, even after my birth. What once was a romance to be envied was now a union only joined by that of a new life they’d co-produced. I became the common denominator.

The story of my birth was revealed to me in 2010 in a conversation with my mother. I learned that I entered this world several weeks before schedule at only 5lbs & 12 oz. I sat in wonder, shock, and amazement as my mom told me that there was a 50/50 chance of survival for either her or me. When I hear that and see both of us alive, I stand in awe at the power & sovereignty of Almighty God.

My mother, who suffered from abuse, a lack of paternal nurturing needed from her father, and emotional trauma-now had another responsibility added to the already complex equation of her life.

My father, Samuel, was living a fatherless life himself. His father had abandoned him and his siblings when he was at the tender age of two years old. From then on he would only know his mother, Elnora Cobb, as both maternal and paternal guide.

My maternal grandmother Eldora Madison-Jefferson (who I have no memory of due to her passing when I was only one year old) gave me my name-Wosheka Adrienne Shantay Jefferson. I know it is unusual and long but nevertheless it’s mine (Smile). Each name has a unique meaning and is derived from multiple origins- American, Indian, and French.

I was told I was her little doll. She would dress me up in all types of dresses, socks, and hats to match. I regret not having any of these memories and to this day have never had the opportunity to see a picture of myself as a baby.

If for but a moment the entrance of this new life brought hope, joy, and even peace to a chaotic situation for many who would embrace it. No one would anticipate my grandmother leaving this life just under a year after my arrival. She was only 36 years old. Life had been granted and life had been taken away.

I was given my mother’s last name rather than my father’s. Although not readily recognized at the moment this is very significant and a precursor to the beginning of rejection in my life.

From birth, the demon & curse of rejection was activated in my existence. It was assigned from the pits of hell to hinder me and continue a cycle from generation to generation. But, I’m so grateful to serve a God whose delivering power can break any curse of the enemy off of your life-once and for all.

God’s Family

We must understand that in the beginning God divinely set up the family. Upon the entrance of sin into the world, things became twisted outside of the original pattern God had designed.

Whenever something operates outside of its normal design and capacities, it’s considered abnormal or dysfunctional; hence the term dysfunctional family.

Most of us are familiar with this terminology either by personal experience or the experience of those we are closely associated with. Either way we have been acquainted with that of a dysfunctional family.

The bible tells us that everything God created was good. There is something wrong when what God once sanctioned and deemed good, proper, functional, & holy is now commonly considered and viewed as dysfunctional.

In modern society we are so twisted that what is now considered normal is actually far from the original pattern.

Genesis 1:31a says- And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.

Dysfunction was not a part of the original design, but by way of sin entered on the scene.

We see that the first murder recorded in the Bible occurred between two brothers, Cain and Abel. (Genesis 4:8)

You may be reading this and saying, I was born into this type of family. As a matter of fact, dysfunctional may actually be a nice way of describing your upbringing. But, it should not be so.

Families make up our neighborhoods, communities, & churches. Families make up our world. This is why the enemy has attacked the very fiber of the family to such a great degree.

We must stand tall as the men and women of God and call the family back to divine order in the name of Jesus Christ with no apologies. We must acknowledge and take responsibility for our actions, repent and press forward with a clearer understanding and focus of what God intended.

When we begin to rise up from the background and demand things realign; we will see the devil retreat and our families regain the strength, fortitude and moral stability intended from the beginning of the world.

Chapter Two

A Place to Call Home

My parents would not be the ones who raised me, but two God sent people took the role of parents in my life. These two people were Louis & Lucille Madison, my great-grandparents. Can you believe it? My great- grandparents well in their prime (they were in their early/late 70’s), done with child rearing after raising three of their own, and helping raise a number of grandchildren, ready for rest and peace, have now opened their home and heart to me- a baby girl. This alone was a miracle.

Jehovah Jireh, our God that will provide-was immediately introduced in my life, through this intervention and for this I’m forever grateful.

An old blue house, which my grandfather built with his own hands expanded from a three room structure to an eight room house, still stands on Antioch Street in Shreveport, LA. This place would be called home for me.

In this home I would have many experiences, ups and downs, but nevertheless it was the home God had provided and saw fit that I be reared in. Thank you Jesus for it!

As you are reading you may be reflecting on your beginnings and experiences thereof. But, I encourage you that it does not matter how you started, but how you finish.

You have no control over the hand you are dealt in life, but you do have control over how you play the hand you are dealt.

Ecclesiastes 7:8a says- Better [is] the end of a thing, than the beginning.

I encourage you again; don’t allow your beginnings to define your ending. The end of your story will be greater than the beginning. There is promise over your life. Destiny and purpose are calling your name. Don’t give up until your change manifests.

DON’T ALLOW YOUR BEGINNINGS TO DEFINE YOUR ENDING

A Sure Foundation

I carry the memories of my great grandparents and the foundations they placed in me every day of my life. The very thought of them brings me joy.

I remember sitting on the front porch in my favorite little wood chair. It was no larger than a footstool with a back on it, but I loved that little chair.

I would sit in between my great-grandfather (affectionately known as BigDaddy) and my great- grandmother (affectionately known as BigMomma) with a smile on my face and not a care in the world. The innocence of a child is a beautiful thing.

My great grandfather, a devout deacon and server of the Lord, would recite scriptures as if he had a Bible imprinted upon his mind. We would sing songs out of the National Baptist Hymnal for what seemed to be hours. One of my favorites was The Last Mile of the Way by Johnson Oatman, Jr.

BigMomma would belt out the words…

When I’ve gone the last mile of the way, I shall rest at the close of the day. I shall see the great King and his beauty. When I’ve gone the last mile of the way.

At times she would go into tears and begin to say over and over Thank you Jesus, as what appeared to be uncontrollably. At the time I didn’t quite understand why this outpouring would often follow our round of hymns and scriptures, but I understand clearly now.

Psalms 16:11 says- Thou wilt shew me the path of life; in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

My grandmother’s outward expression was a result of the inward joy, peace, and comfort she had come to know in her Lord and Savior. I now echo her disposition as I find my peace, joy and rest in his presence. There is nothing like being in the presence of God.

Indelible Impressions

This tradition began when I was just a small, small child barely talking. As I sat in between these two God-fearing people I had no idea at that time the nurturing and shaping that was taking place within my life. Right there in the wooden chair on the front porch, God was molding me.

Jeremiah chapter 18 describes Jeremiah’s experience with the potter.

Jeremiah 18:3-4 says- So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.

The symbolism & spiritual significance behind Jeremiah’s encounter was that God continually shapes us into the vessels he would have us to be without consulting us for permission. It is God’s prerogative to do with us, his creation, what he wills.

In this passage we are reminded of the process of transformation in our lives. We are enlightened by the patience, preciseness, and perfection of the potter as he continues to mold and shape the vessel in his hands to completion. God wants you to know that the work he started in you, he will complete. You may be flawed or broken now, but the potter wants to and will put you back together again.

You were not created by chance, but by choice. Your existence is on purpose. Psalms 139:14 says- I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. God’s divine design & Spirit is etched into the composition of your being. You are his masterpiece.

YOU WERE NOT CREATED BY CHANCE. YOU WERE CREATED BY CHOICE. YOU ARE GOD’S MASTERPIECE.

VALUABLE DEPOSIT

I’m so glad that a seed was planted in my life. One thing about a seed planted in the right soil is, it’s guaranteed to bring forth a harvest.

Genesis 8:22a says- While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest.

This means that as long as there is an earth, you can trust that harvest will come from your seeds. Whether the seed is good or bad, there will be a crop produced. This is important to remember and utilize.

Parents, we must work the principles of God in raising our children-that we may see the fruit of our labor. Proverbs 22:6 says- Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. Plant the proper seed, and wait for the harvest.

There is great significance in laying a solid foundation. When there is a firm foundation, there is stability. Where there is a firm foundation, there is support. A tree with weak roots will fall with the slightest gust of wind, but a tree that has strong roots will stand through and after the storm.

Before the wall, windows, bricks, doors, and all the things that make a physical structure beautiful to behold are constructed, builders understand there must be a solid foundation laid.

What good would it be to build a beautiful home with the finest and most expensive materials, leave out the foundation, and lose it all when a storm comes?

However, this is how we are building our families today. We invest more into their wardrobe & electronic devices than their education, and spiritual development.

We must re-focus, re-group, and re-gain the order and structure God intended for the family. I would not be where I am today without the values, and Godly fear that was instilled in me from birth.

The storms, tests, hardships, and trials you are going to read about in this book would have taken my mind, aborted my destiny, and ultimately consumed my life had it not been for the roots that were in place. Praise God for the proper roots.

God knew the tests, trials, and process that I would encounter on my journey to destiny and therefore he began preparing and depositing into me from the beginning that I would have strength in my inner man in order to stand and endure.

Ephesians 6:11 says- Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to STAND against the wiles of the devil.

I’m still standing today and the glory belongs to God!!!

Chapter Three

Shatteredlnnocence

The enemy sets traps and releases