Patrice Cagle's abuse began not with strangers but with trusted loved ones. The repeated abuses and almost total lack of support led her to a place of tragic acceptance, which set the pattern for a long period of guilt and unhealthy relationships. I had been broken to the point that I felt dirty, unwanted, untouchable, and unlovable. I did not understand how God could want a person like me to be His child . . . Then He reminded me that He is always with me (Mt 28:20) . . . He still loves me and all my issues today and will still love me tomorrow even if I mess up. The change was not instant and painless. Recovery took meditation on the Word, prayer and fasting, obedience to His will, godly counseling, and bonding with others who had survived similar horrors. She became absolutely dependent on God's love and grace, but her healing required that she take an active role in becoming who she was created to be. My life used to be a mess, but it's because of that mess that I now have a message. I'm telling my story, so God can get the glory . . . Adversity is a confirmation that you're in the will of God . . . God is waiting on you to meet Him at the place of provision . . . God is not glorified by our suffering, but he is glorified when we have a good attitude during suffering. The blessing, power, and anointing comes after the pain. My Sustainer is a testimony for everyone who questions the purpose of life's trials and wonders where God is during the pain. The fact is He's always there and will use suffering to strengthen the character and faith of His children. Patrice Cagle resides in North Carolina (with her cat). She is a doctoral graduate student conducting triple negative breast cancer research. She is the recipient of the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Award. Although this is her first published book, she is an author of several published scientific research journal articles. She loves to write poems and is a member of the Writer's Group of the Triad (WGOT) and participates in the memoir critique group. During her spare time, Patrice enjoys giving back to her community and is very involved in her church, Monument of Faith Ministries in Eden, NC. She has been a member of the NCCADV Women of Color Caucus and has volunteered for numerous organizations combatting abuse and domestic violence such as Family Services of the Piedmont and Exhale Victim Alliance. Patrice also enjoys volunteering to feed the homeless in her local community as well as her church community.
