I always write in a little notebook that I keep with me, “When you give it shall be given back to you. When you bless others, you are blessed.” I have done that, many, many times over. Now, it’s time to truly bless myself.
I’m out of things to tell you about my life and I don’t know about your life. I’m just a young girl from a rough background who has had some success. I shared my life with you in the hope that if you see something, like a mistake you’re making in your own life, maybe my story can help you make a change before it’s too late. All I can say to you is the way to be real with other people is being real with yourself. Know that you are a child of God and treat everyone with the same respect that you want, because they are children of God too. Every relationship you have with another person should be sacred. Your relationship with your mother, brother, friend, boyfriend, or girlfriend should make you feel good. If it doesn’t make you feel better about yourself, it’s not a good relationship for you. Love and honor your children and your parents. But most of all, promise ’Tasia that you will forgive yourself for whatever you have done, and love every bit of yourself.
MY MOMENT OF
FAITH:WHAT I LEARNED
This is the scripture that I think about every single day before I put my feet on the ground. It gives me strength and peace. It will do the same for you too—just read it. God bless you.
In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.
Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me.
For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me.
Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength.
Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.
I have hated them that regard lying vanities: but I trust in the Lord.
I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities;
And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large room.
Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly.
For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed.
I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see me without fled from me.
I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel.
For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.
But I trusted in thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my God.
My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.
Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies’ sake.
Let me not be ashamed, O Lord; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave.
Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.
Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!
Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.
Blessed be the Lord: for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strong city.
For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee.
O love the Lord, all ye his saints: for the Lord preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.
Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.
PSALMS31: 1–24
Acknowledgments
God, I thank You for everything You’ve done for me. Out of all those blessings You have bestowed, God, You keep blessing me. I didn’t do everything right, or cross every “T,” but, in spite of that all, You keep blessing me. I’m not ashamed to tell the world about it, God. You are the pilot of this plane and I am thankful to be able to ride it.
Now I want to thank my family and for all they have done for me. That isthe Love. Zion, you are always on my mind, and you are the strength when Mama’s tired. To my angel, Diane Barrino, you are my hero and I want to follow in your footsteps. To my father, Joseph Barrino, I love you for being hard on me because it made me the strong person I am today. To my brothers: Rico, Tiny, and Xavier. Being the only girl, it was tough foolin’ with you boys, but I know your love has always got my back. Grandma Addie: you are my strong woman and I love you so much. You are my pastor. To all my busy nieces and nephews, Auntie loves you and prays for you every day.
To all my friends, and especially my church family, this book is a shout out because it is something we all went through. Jenny, I love you and you are always there for
