The Pastor's Wife And Crime

Once many have read or seen that I am a Pastor’s wife they seem to get the misperception that my life is good and a bed of roses. Let me stop there because this is far from the truth.

It took many years to realize that this was my calling. Before being a pastor’s wife I lived in the world as it is today and everyday. I drank, used drugs, lied, cheated and stole. Even as a child I was a delinquent that only thought my mom was out to sabotage my life. I even spent twelve days in jail and lived in a foster home for six months.

Jail wasn’t a place for me. I am blessed that I didn’t go into insulin shock as it took the nurses at least fifteen minutes when I would call for them knowing my blood sugar was dropping to a dangerous level. Most inmates would worry about fights or whatever, but not me. For once in my life I cared about my blood sugar. It was probably just an excuse I was making considering where I was at. I never took my glucose before.

It didn’t take too long to figure out that God hadn’t created me to live a life of crime. I was horrible at it. Here is what I did. First, I had a friend cut the lock off my water meter so I could have water after not paying the bill. After all, I had more important things to get. When the detective came to the house to question me about this I took all the blame. He asked if I had help and of course all 80 pounds of me said I had no help and did it by myself. He knew I was lying but I thought I pulled it off. How delusional I was.

My next adventure came when my babysitter asked me to take her ATM card, get some cash and go get us some party goods. Big mistake! That was my green light to use it over and over. I thought it was so cool that I even smiled at the hidden ATM cameras.

Guess who was at my front door again? Yes, the same detective who caught me with the water lock. He even had my pictures with him. I didn’t know they sold ATM cover pictures.

Third time around I found myself with the water shut off again. This time instead of having someone cut off the lock, I took an old check from my closed checking account and took it to the city. Yes, I signed my real name. When the check was reported, I was in the hospital because I took such good care of myself.

Guess who came to see me at the hospital? Yes, my detective friend. He asked silly questions like, do I remember writing that check and why. Duh, I needed water. He said he wasn’t going to arrest me this time and I was thrilled. What he didn’t tell me was that there would be a sheriff to do so on my discharge. Boy was I stupid. This is when I spent twelve days in jail. I was so embarrassed but that didn’t stop me just yet.

Fourth offense was when I used another persons name to obtain credit cards and purchase all the toys I thought I deserved. Boy was I a sick puppy. One more time my detective friend showed up and made me write a letter of apology before he arrested me. We really should have stopped meeting that way.

Finally realizing that I was not living the way God created me to, I was almost at the end of my rope. What had happened to me that I would do such harmful things? Even my mother had to use tough love and cut off all communication with me. I hated myself. I lived as a roommate with some disabled man who wasn’t doing any better than I was. I was miserable.

I finally made a feeble attempt in calling some people for help. I ended up calling a church which had a home for girls like me that needed rehabilitation. A kind lady picked me up for church that night and introduced me to all the players who had been where I was.

Quickly turning back to my usual self, I denied I had a problem with drugs, alcohol or anything else. Yet still, that evening planted a seed in my soul that there was help out there for those like me. Unfortunately that seed wasn’t deep enough at the time so, as this lady gave me a ride home, I reached in her purse and took her wallet. I used the cash, wrote bad checks and used one of her credit cards to fill my friend’s truck up.

The next day this lady called and told me she was missing her wallet and had I seen it. Of course I lied and said no. She said she had hoped I had. She said that she cancelled all the credit cards and checking account but that she just wanted her driver’s license so she wouldn’t have to go through the hassle of the DMV. I was surprised she didn’t press charges. Nonetheless, the DA and store where I wrote the bad check did. They got me for writing a fraudulent check and commercial burglary.

Back to this lady’s phone call. After I hung up I had felt some conviction. Remember I said I wasn’t a very good criminal. I probably could have gone on the show “America’s Dumbest Criminals.” I took the lady’s wallet, wrapped it in some paper and then put it into an oversized box. After this I wrote a note saying, I am sorry, here is your wallet and you should prosecute me. And yes, I signed my real name! Hello!?

Once this was all done I went back to that small apartment and called my mom. I asked her for help and was serious. I wanted to change my life for the better and I asked her to take me to rehab. One of the best things I did at that time. Even after being estranged from my mom, she was there to take me and help. I have the best mom in the world.

It has been eleven years and three months since I took a drink or drugs and I am blessed to be alive and share my story with you. A lot has happened since then. I have learned to be a wife, mom, daughter, granddaughter and grandmother and student. I wouldn’t change this if you offered me gold and silver. My Father in Heaven has all that.

The biggest miracle in my life today is that God chose me to be a Pastors wife. Why? So I could help other sick people find a new way to live. I never would have known a different way of life should I have lived if I didn’t make that call for help. Of course all glory goes to God.

Today I live a full life that can’t compare to where I was. When I serve the Lord and am in his will I am fulfilled and happy. I have also found that there is no better rush then that of the Holy Spirit with me.

If you or someone you love is struggling with similar circumstances, don’t give up hope. We have a BIG God and Jesus stands ready waiting for you to call on him. With God all things are possible.