I originally shared this as a Facebook post, but I thought about it this morning and figured it was also worth posting here. I’m sooooooooooooo thankful for my life and I’m proud to say I am from Laurinburg.

When I was younger, I didn’t understand the hurt, pain, and challenges I went through. I used to cry because I was ashamed/embarrassed– now tears fall because I see, EVERYDAY, how God is using my story to help today’s youth.

Yesterday, after bible study, one of my youth came up to me and said, “Miss Fran, I didn’t know we had all that in common” and I replied (with a smile on my face), “Yes, we do. And all those negative things don’t matter when God has His hand on your life. He WILL use it ALL for your GOOD!”

Like Joseph, God has taken me from what felt like the “pit”…