My Parents Got Divorced

When I was 10 years old, my parents got divorced. They were always arguing and fighting. My dad was cheating on my mom, with a woman named Lisa. He would always come home so late, and sometimes he didn't come home at all. I was very depressed and I didn't know how to deal with it. I had nobody to talk to about it. I would cry myself to sleep.

One day, I wrapped my my hands around my throat and squeezed as hard as I could. I couldn't do it because I thought about my family.

One day, I came across TheHopeLine® and it helped me through all of this. I was meant to find and join this site. It saved my life and I realized this...it wasn't my fault at all. I wasn't alone.

If you are feeling alone and are dealing with divorce, check out our eBook: Understanding Divorce.

Why You Matter

Sometimes you feel like you are not good enough, perhaps because of certain challenges that may make you give into self-doubt. The good news is you are not alone; we all have moments like that in our lives. If you’ve lost your self-worth and confidence, you are at the right place; this article will help you improve your overall well-being by reminding you why you matter.

1. You are the only person who can be you

You matter because you are the only person who can be you. This planet has over 7 billion people and yet you are the only person who is exactly like you. Take, for instance, your fingerprints; they are unique and yet you are the only one with them. Ideally, everyone faces different challenges and gains different experiences. The fact that each one of us has a different life journey means we all have different stories to tell. Believe it or not, this simple fact is incredibly crucial. Hence, for even a second, don’t allow yourself to think anything differently.

2. You have the ability to make a stranger’s day

I know you’re wondering how this is possible. Well, you don’t need to be superhuman to put a smile on someone’s face; all you need is little acts of random kindness. Take a look at yourself and note that you are every bit capable of making a stranger’s day brighter. Whether it’s sheltering someone else with your umbrella on a rainy day, sharing a smile, helping an old lady across the street, getting a bottle of water for a foreign worker or offering up your seat to someone else, you possess the power to make a stranger’s day even if you are unable to make your own.

3. You can be a passionate and genuine leader

Leadership is all about influencing and inspiring others. Of course, you have to do this in a positive way, so the people you lead can achieve their own greatness. As mentioned earlier, all of us are unique, meaning we have different abilities and talents. And being a leader can be one of those abilities. If you find yourself in any leadership position, lend a helping hand, provide encouragement, and make a difference in the lives of others.

4. Your talent has the power to greatly inspire others

While you are busy trying to be more of someone else and less of you, remember, someone somewhere is doing the exact same thing: Wanting to be you. Instead of wallowing in self-pity, note that your talent can greatly inspire someone. The talent does not need to be an outright one like painting, playing soccer, or drawing, but know that you can inspire someone (including a total stranger) with whatever you have in hand.

5. You are a human being, never forget this

You are an active, living, breathing human being. That should be enough. You take up space on this earth; not useless space, but space that matters; space that can make a difference. You light up the world with your body and soul, and above all, you are ALIVE. You are alive and this only means one thing; you are yet to accomplish everything you need to.

Don’t at any second belittle yourself. You matter, not just to yourself but to others as well. You are alive for a reason, and you have the power to control that. Be positive, be happy, and most importantly, be yourself, because you are important in every aspect of your own.

Ivy Norton is a mother of 3 and the founder of mommasbaby.com. She writes, "Having struggled through some times of depression, and the feeling of worthlessness, I hope to shed light on what makes you important and why every day is a gift that should be cherished."

If you struggle with your self-worth, and want to know what to do when you hate yourself, check out TheHopeLine's eBook:

Quinn's Story

I have always seemed like the happy one of my family. No one notices things that they don't want to. In September 2015, I jumped off a freeway overpass. I was in the hospital for over a month. I will have lasting impressions of the injuries I sustained for the rest of my life.

TheHopeLine has been here for me when I needed someone to talk to.

My family doesn't want to talk about it. My brother calls me the family cripple. My family views me as disabled. I might have a limp, and I might be depressed, but that does not make me any less of a person. I am embarrassed to say that I need help from my family, because it has been made into something to be ashamed of.

Thank you TheHopeLine,  for being the one place that I can go to talk.
-Quinn
If you or a friend need support right now, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, for free confidential, 24/7 help. Head here for a list of crisis centers around the world. For additional help, please visit the suicide prevention resource page.

For more on what to do if you are having suicidal thoughts or if you know someone who is considering suicide, check out TheHopeLine's eBook: Understanding Suicide.

Coy's Story

I spoke with a HopeCoach name West last week. I had googled “Suicide Help Line.”

I was too ashamed to talk to someone over the phone but when I saw a chat option, I felt that would be safe enough.

My life began to feel so heavy and dark inside. I knew it was outside input from the enemy but eventually, I just started to believe the lie. I was a worthless father, husband and provider for my family. My new job hadn’t panned out the way I thought it would and left my family of six with a $500 a month pay cut. Over the course of 6 months, we had fallen behind on rent, other bills and it just started to tailspin. Every day at work, I would contemplate and try to just build up the courage to walk out onto the highway in front of a semi. Too proud to ask for help, too much of a coward to take the easy way out.

I felt stuck, hopeless and utterly alone in the midst of hundreds of people who love me. It was 2 am, one of my two daughters was crying. Every time I laid her in the crib, she would cry. So, I picked her up, went to the living room and while holding her, was looking up suicide helplines. I found TheHopeLine through Death2Life. West came on and began talking with me.

I felt safe. I felt like she didn’t have a bone of condemnation in her body.

She told me her story and I began to cry. The first time I had been able to cry in a long time. She had no way of knowing but we had similar experiences with cancer and loved ones. She asked if it was ok to give me scriptures, I agreed. I knew what the Word said and exactly what I would tell other people in my situation. I just couldn’t see the forest for the trees. I had succumbed to the lie. I was worthless and never going to be able to get out of my situation. That my family would be better off without me. That God would send a better man than me to raise my kids and take care of my wife. They deserved more than what I had laid at their feet.

We talked and it seemed everything she said resonated with me. She prayed with me. She prayed a prayer and I believed it. She prayed as if she knew God was going to answer it.

I went to bed. I woke up the next morning, tender from the night before. I decided I’m just going to drive hard at work, work as fast as I can and get the day over with.

I started to recall the night before. I felt a burden to apologize to my boss for my lack of effort at work. I had been so depressed it affected my performance. He never said anything, but I know it did. As I went to apologize I started to cry. He pulled me aside and asked what was going on. I had just felt so transparent, I told him everything from suicidal thoughts, depression, money woes, etc.

He asked me how far behind I was. I told him and he placed one month's rent in my pocket in cash right then.  I didn’t expect that…not in a million years. By the end of the day, He had lined up a side job that would help us get out of our situation. I was broken. God had done something I couldn’t believe. He answered West's prayer for me that she prayed that night before.

I know the road ahead is long but West gave me something I had lost for a while. Hope. I know it will not be fixed overnight. I do believe God is bigger than this and I need to not be a lone ranger Christian and I need to rely on people to pray, trust and help lift my burdens.

I just wanted to say thanks to West. God used her to do a mighty miracle in my life.  My wife and four children thank you. They have a new daddy and husband now. I pray your reward is great on Earth and in Heaven.

In Christ Alone,
~Coy

If you or a friend need support right now, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, for free confidential, 24/7 help. Head here for a list of crisis centers around the world. For additional help, please visit the suicide prevention resource page.

If you are having suicidal thoughts or feeling very low and depressed, download TheHopeLine's free eBook.

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