Three years ago, when Kelsey was a freshman, I had texted her Bible verses and words of encouragement before and after her games. A few months ago (out of the blue) she sends me this text. I asked Kelsey to share her journey with you. The following is what she wrote.
Throughout my life I struggled with believing in God. I grew up in a Catholic family, going to a Catholic grade school, high school and college, yet I still battled with the thought of God being real. In the middle of my Junior year at Xavier University I began dating a guy who inspired me to become a better person. I began attending church, working harder in volleyball and school, and began centering my life around being the best person I could be. My life felt perfect, but it was all about to turn upside down. In the same week the guy I was dating broke up with me and I tore my labrum in my right arm. The two things I loved most, this guy and volleyball, had just slipped out of my hands at the exact same time. I felt lost and so unhappy. This led me to start drinking and partying more to try and make myself happy again, but that was not the answer. I hit rock bottom and I felt so guilty and had so many regrets. I could not believe that I had come so far in making myself a better person and that I let myself mess up so bad.
I didn’t know who to turn to or who to talk to. One day as I was walking through campus, I began praying to God. I told him I was so sorry for what I had done and I asked for his forgiveness and told him I would do anything for his help and that I would truly believe in him and follow him if he would help me. For the first time in my life, God spoke to me. He told me, “I cannot help you unless you start helping yourself, too.” Right then and there I devoted my life to God. I started attending Athlete’s in Action meetings, stopped drinking, began going to church with two soccer friends that took me under their wings, was baptized, and signed up for AIA’s Ultimate Training Camp. I didn’t just slowly dip my feet into the water, I sprinted and dived straight in to the water. I was so eager to know God and to change my life around that I couldn’t wait to start learning about God and his Word.
I cannot say that I have been perfect since making profound changes in my life. I have had some slip-ups, but I am only human like every one of God’s children. My journey this year has been the most rewarding event in my life. I learned so much about myself and how the darkness that was inside of me is not who I am but is something I can choose to reject. I have the power to choose to be Christ-like and I chose God’s word and God’s path for me. No matter what obstacles God puts in my path, I know that all I have to do is keep God close to me for strength and I can make it through anything. All I can say is that I am so excited to see what God has in store for me next.
