How can we find healing for our broken hearts? I want to tell my life story briefly, and reflect on all that God has done for me and my family. By doing this I want to continue to heal my heart that is still healing from the past. I also want to encourage you to reflect on all that God has done for you and let those thoughts push out any struggles you are going through.
November 11 is Remembrance Day in Canada; Veterans Day in the United States and then in December we have Christmas Day. I hope this time of reflection will help you appreciate both of these wonderful holidays.
These are some of the obstacles that I have used as an excuse to drown myself in addictions and not reach my full potential as an Aboriginal person, and a follower of Jesus. I used these circumstances to not allow my heart to heal and enjoy this life that God has given me.
• I was adopted off of the reserve as a baby and was moved around to twelve different homes before ending up at the Stelters’ home.
• My adoptive mother died of cancer when I was twelve years old and she had that cancer for five years so our entire family watched her die a slow death.
• This adoptive mother of mine was the closest member of the Stelter family to me and when she died it shattered my world, both in my conscious and subconscious mind and heart.
• I became a binge drinker at the age of sixteen and loved alcohol, despite the negative effects it had on my life.
• I dropped out of high school three times.
• I lived a promiscuous life, literally, looking for love in the all wrong places, as the famous song says.
• Despite growing up in a loving family and loving church family, I decided to become rebellious and I didn’t care what anyone thought of me. As a result of this approach to life, I experienced pain and the consequences of my sin.
• I weighed 460 lbs at one point in time in my life.
• After getting married I continued down this rebellious road of sin and my unstable lifestyle cost me and my wife the loss of our children to the child welfare system, which took years to recover from.
Now, here are all the wonderful things God did in my life and my wife’s life, despite the list I just made for you. When I reflect on all these wonderful things it warms my heart and changes my mood from gloom and despair to hope.
• I have finally embraced the love and grace of Jesus Christ that He offered me many years ago.
• I’ve been sober now for 14 years.
• I have a College Diploma, a University Degree, a Master’s Degree, and I’m currently enrolled in a Doctorate Program.
• I’m still with my wife and we’ve been happily married for 15 years.
• We have our children back after years of having them in the system.
• My wife has been a Class 1 truck driver for the last nine years and has worked for the same employer for the last seven years.
• I am a pastor at an Aboriginal church working with my people.
• I am founder of an Aboriginal not-for-profit society that also works with my people.
• I have a weekly Bible teaching program on the radio that reaches many Aboriginal people.
• I wrote a book two years ago and I am currently finishing a second one.
• My wife released a CD this year with her instrumental piano gospel favorites.
• I lost 170 lbs over the last two years and I am no longer on high blood pressure pills or high sugar level pills.
• I speak at various churches telling my story and teaching the Bible.
• I’ve now brought honor and respect to my parents who raised me, instead of dishonor and disgrace.
These are all the wonderful things that I am reflecting on, and by doing my broken heart is continuing to be healed. Please, I beg you, don’t give up on yourself and your family. Allow God to heal your broken heart and allow Him to help you reach your potential for the Kingdom of God.
Don’t let the past dictate your future. Allow God to heal your broken heart.
Parry Stelter is originally from Alexander First Nation and is founder of Word of Hope Ministries and lives in Edmonton, Alberta. http://www.wordofhopeministries.ca
