July 2014 I attended a church summer camp. I did not want in any way to be a part of this whole "God thing". On the fourth day of camp I received a paper from my youth leader with the word "REDEEMED" written across it, but I really didn't want to believe that at all. I was home for about 3 months. November 2014 I decided life wasn't for me one day and I wrote goodbye to my family. I was expecting to go home and take my life, but it didn't end the way I wanted it to. I sat in an ER with a nurse and a security guard watching my every move that night. My dad sat on a chair for 17 hours staring at my bright red wrists as they burned and they itched while I slept on a hospital bed. I was trying to fight this uncontrollable war that was going on in my head, but could never seem to win. I was put in a psych ward where I spent the next few months moping around and skipping "mandatory" groups because I decided to be sick every other hour on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. There was no hope for me and for all I knew my friends had probably forgotten. I was alone. After 3 months of this, I was discharged from the hospital, so I decided to wake up one day and go to church. 7 months went by and it was once again time for camp. July 2015 I attended summer camp on my own decision. I met a leader there who spoke a lesson and very frequently she talked about this key she wore around her neck. A day before camp was over she had me write a letter to myself that she was going to mail to me later. I went home and about a month went by when I got a little package in the mail. I knew it was my letter, but when I opened it, her key was sitting in a little bag and stamped into the key was the word "REDEEMED". This key had a huge impact on my life. I've never been closer to God. I wear this key around my neck everywhere I go and when I'm down, I hold it and remember that my past does not define who I am and that I am redeemed in His Kingdom.
~Emmaline
