Cheryl's Story

I am so thankful for the opportunity to share our story in purchasing the He Healed Me pendant.  It has been a blessing.  

My daughter was born drunk.  Her birthmother was addicted to alcohol and drugs and we believe used them frequently while she was pregnant.   But although she was born drunk and had tremors off and on until she was about 3, she only showed signs of ADHD and mild Bi-Polar disorder.  For a while it was manageable.  

As a young child she would rage, but most times she usually appeared to be a beautiful, talented, athletic, smart and loving little girl.    As she got older, however, her rage and unpredictable temperament got worse.  It became more and more difficult to contain her emotional problems and as she entered puberty, she began to erupt and our world began to fall apart. 

Her anger and rage became so unpredictable and violent that she was nearly expelled from public school for throwing scissors at a classmate, moved to a behavior program, then moved to another more stringent behavior modification program and diagnosed with special needs.  She would curse, fight, destroy things and relationships, spit and yell when she didn’t get her way.  Her behavior affected our home, too. 

Her older brother, to this day, is really hurt by the awful things she has said and done in her anger.  Her father has had a difficult time overlooking her flaws and since we weren’t in agreement on how to deal with her problems – we were fighting too.  I felt responsible to bear the burden of loving an often times very unlovable child.   Her behavior negatively affected both our jobs and income because of the many suspensions and phone calls to come pick her up.    

After over 2 years of being taken through the wringer but hopeful that God would heal as only He could, we sat in church when the call came for those who needed healing.  I took her to the altar and called my husband and son to join us.  Our Pastor told us to wait as he attended to all the others, and then came back to Brianna.  He laid hands on her, told her to drink cleansing water he brought to her, and then prayed over her.  At that moment, my 12 year old was slain in the spirit.

I watched her closely to see if she was playing around – she was not.  She laid there for about 10 minutes before waking up.  Later that evening, I asked her what happened when she was slain and she said God said now that I am clean, I can do great things. 

That was Easter Sunday, March 23, 2008.  Shortly after that I went looking for a spiritual marker and came across the pendant.  I had the date and Psalm 51:1-12 which begins Create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me … engraved as a reminder that God healed her.

Her last 6 weeks of school last year were the best she’d had all year.  She even made honor roll.  Her behavior and focus were awesome. We thought we were done.

But sometimes healing is about walking in it and believing in it when it doesn’t look like it.  The summer has been hard.  She ran off 3 times but hasn’t cursed and lashed out as much.  She’s not as angry about her birth situation, but she's still challenged with her life and emotions.

Just today, 7 months later, when I picked her up at school I was told she'd had a horrible day … cursing, threatening violence against herself and others, generally disrupting everyone and having an all day temper tantrum. 

I have to keep reminding myself that she is smart, bright and loving regardless of what she does.  I have to believe she is healed when she does not believe it, want it or show it.  My faith has to withstand what’s in the natural knowing what’s in the supernatural. Knowing that God has healed her, even if she isn’t acting like it.

She hasn’t worn her pendant for a while – I have kept it safe in a drawer.  I think she actually broke the black necklace that came with it. 

Today, while writing I decided that I would wear the spiritual marker as a visible reminder to me.  I had my own circle pendant engraved at that time too.  Mine says Restore Me and the scripture 1 Peter 5:10 that says And the God of all grace, who called me into his eternal glory in Christ, after I have suffered a little while, will himself restore me and make me strong, firm and steadfast.  I got one that my son wears to encourage him to trust God with Psalm 3:5-6.  He wears it everyday.

Sometimes I think the whole situation is in place to grow my faith in God and His Word.  I’ve had to deal with my own hurt, misplaced expectations, misunderstood relationships, anger, frustration, friends who let me down and some who judged.  I’ve had to learn to open the door for help and be real about our situation. 

Brianna may still be showing signs of immaturity and anger, my son may still show signs of hurt, my husband may have difficulty loving who she is apart from what she does, but in all that my faith has grown immensely. 

I am not the same person I was … I am stronger, more faithful and trust God even more.  I sometimes think the healing had to begin with me.  I am healed and walking in divine revelation toward my restoration.  I’ll wear the pendant and tell the story of my healing and Brianna’s while I wait on the natural manifestation of what God has already done. 

Cheryl
LaVergne, Tennesee