Hopelessness to Purpose | THIS IS MY STORY | NAIM

Summary

Brook Bird shares her personal story of growing up in foster care, facing neglect, addiction, and deep struggles throughout her childhood and early adulthood. Despite a turbulent path involving substance abuse and searching for love and acceptance, she found hope and redemption through her faith in God. Brook recalls the transformation in her life when she turned to Jesus, overcoming challenges and embarking on a healing journey that led her to Prairie College. Now, as a Christian woman, she seeks to embrace both her Cree heritage and her identity in Christ while helping others find purpose and healing.

Takeaways

• 💔 The speaker grew up in a broken home, spending much of their childhood in and out of foster care, experiencing pain, neglect, and instability.
• 🍻 The speaker's parents struggled with addiction, particularly their mother, which contributed to a chaotic and unhealthy home environment.
• 🙏 At 8 years old, the speaker found solace in their faith, asking Jesus into their heart and feeling God's presence, especially during Bible camp.
• 😞 Despite finding faith, the speaker struggled with a desire for belonging and acceptance, leading them to follow friends who led them astray.
• 😢 The speaker was ashamed after being kicked out of Bible camp for bullying and felt undeserving of God's forgiveness, which deepened their emotional pain.
• 🍷 From the ages of 15 to 27, the speaker spiraled into a life of addiction, drinking, drugs, and unhealthy relationships, searching for love they didn't receive as a child.
• 🌀 The speaker faced suicidal thoughts during their battle with addiction, but their love for their siblings and belief in God kept them going.
• 🌟 In 2018, the speaker experienced a turning point, deciding to surrender their life to God, although the process of overcoming addiction took time.
• 🛤 The speaker is now on a healing journey, embracing their heritage and identity as a Cree woman, while also growing as a child of God.
• ✝️ The speaker credits God's grace for transforming their life, giving them hope and purpose, and helping them believe in the possibility of redemption and change.

Q & A

What kind of upbringing did Brook Bird have?

Brook Bird grew up in a broken home, frequently moving in and out of foster homes, where she experienced neglect and various challenges.

What were some of the struggles Brook faced in foster homes?

Brook experienced pain, abandonment issues, and neglect while moving between foster homes.

How did Brook’s parents' behavior affect her upbringing?

Brook's parents, particularly her mother, struggled with addiction. Her home environment was unstable, with frequent parties and intoxication, which negatively impacted her childhood.

When did Brook find her faith in God, and how did it influence her?

At the age of 8, Brook asked Jesus into her heart, and she felt God’s grace and presence with her throughout her struggles, providing her with comfort and guidance.

What was Brook's experience at Bible camp, and how did it affect her faith?

Bible camp was a place where Brook felt safe and could have fun as a child. However, she followed her friends instead of Jesus, leading to negative behaviors like bullying, which resulted in her being kicked out of the camp. This caused feelings of shame and unworthiness.

How did Brook’s struggles escalate during her teenage and young adult years?

From the age of 15 to 27, Brook fell into a cycle of drinking, drugs, and unhealthy relationships, as she searched for love and belonging that she lacked in her childhood.

What factors helped Brook resist the idea of committing suicide during her dark times?

Brook’s love for her siblings and her belief that there was more to live for kept her from giving in to suicidal thoughts. She also felt God's presence guiding her away from that path.

When did Brook experience a turning point in her life?

In 2018, Brook decided she no longer wanted to live the life of addiction and sin. Although it wasn’t an overnight change, she began the process of turning back to God and allowing Him to transform her life.

How has Brook's time at Prairie College impacted her spiritual and cultural journey?

Prairie College has played a significant role in Brook's healing journey, allowing her to grow in both her identity as a Cree woman and as a child of God. She has also learned that she can embrace both her cultural heritage and her Christian faith.

What message does Brook emphasize about God’s role in her life?

Brook believes that God has been with her throughout her life and that His grace has transformed her. She emphasizes that God can do amazing things, even in the most difficult situations, and that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.