My father's alcohol addiction and the resulting negative behaviors forced me to grow up sooner than expected. I never felt loved as a child, and as I got older, that feeling never left me. As I started my journey of finding love, I kept failing because I was searching in all the wrong places. I asked God to send me that special someone to love. While still searching, God answered my prayers, but I wasn't ready. After a near fatal accident, I questioned why my life was spared. God gave me the clarity to understand that a change was needed in my life. I realized that God wanted me to endure some pain and suffering in order for me to become a better person. I now know that God's blessings have always been upon me, and I am just beginning to understand why.