Tabitha’s Smile

Tabitha, 55, reached the point where she entertained the idea of ending it all – believing there was no way out of the mess she had made of her life.  She came to counseling stricken with guilt, grief and hopelessness.

Her upbringing in an unstable home spilled over into her own marriage and family. She had traveled a long hard road suffering tremendous emotional and physical abuse throughout her life and also in her first marriage. She felt unworthy, unloved and unfit to be a mother to her 3 children.

These overwhelming feelings led her to make a decision that haunted her for years to come. Tabitha decided to leave her family believing she wasn’t enough for them, for God, for anyone.

God had a plan of redemption for Tabitha. God led her to STCH Ministries Family Counseling Corpus Christi, where she met someone who listened, who cared and believed that she was a worthy person. STCH Ministries counselor Leslee O’Neal became the representation of God’s grace for Tabitha. Through the course of counseling, Leslee helped Tabitha learn about her true identity in Christ.

Leslee stood firm in the truth of God’s good plan for Tabitha’s life. This helped her gain an understanding of God’s love, mercy and grace. Tabitha worked hard to battle the lies of her past and hold fast to the truth of God’s love, salvation and redemptive plan for her life. God and Tabitha won. She learned to accept herself, forgive others, and be led by a God of unconditional love and acceptance. As she healed, she reconnected with her grown children and enjoyed the blessing of being a part of her grandchildren’s lives.

Tabitha recently wrote a sweet note to Leslee staking her claim to the freedom and blessings she now gets to live in. Tabitha shares in her message “… I love my life…and I know that God and you did an amazing thing for me, you taught me to smile again.”

Leslee gives thanks to God for His unconditional love and peace. She is grateful to STCH Ministries donors, supporters and staff for providing the opportunity to help Tabitha find her smile again.