Terry Sheppard

A War Survivor's Sojourn Terry Sheppard

I am a survivor. In seven decades of life, I have survived childhood, war, divorce, bankruptcy, and the deaths of those closest to me. I have survived broken friendships and betrayals. I have survived things that I am now amazed I survived. Still, I rejoice. I rejoice and exult the precious gift of the life given to me. It is with humble gratitude that I share the story of my gift, a life given to me by Jesus Christ. We are all the products of our life experiences, our backgrounds, our parents, and our ideas. These elements shape who we are, and how we think and behave. They shape our particular lives. Surviving these experiences, and many of us do not, we learn life lessons. One of the hardest lessons I have learned is the importance of letting go. Whether it is letting go of guilt, anger, love, or betrayal, letting go is never easy. This is the story of my life's journey. I am now past my seventh year, my hair now is gray. Sometimes my hip aches after a long day on the hilltop, but each day now is better and more blessed than the last. Each day, I am more filled than ever with Christ's love. After the trials and struggles of my life for seven decades, the Lord has blessed me with a heart full of love. It is humbling to be so blessed. I understand that my blessings are the result of the suffering Christ endured for me.