This book exemplifies the many things that God used to transform her own life. Darlene went back to school in 2006 at the age of forty-two during some of the most difficult times in her life. In her younger years, she was quiet, shy, an average student, a slow learner, and not very enthusiastic about school. However, God blessed her with the opportunity and desire to participate first in a program at Montgomery County Community College for adult students. This course, New Choices/New Options, helped her to reinvent herself. This was not an easy road for her. She had to take remedial classes before she could even begin college courses. It took six years for her to complete the associate's degree program. Immediately following, she entered a bachelor's program which took less than two years to complete. After that she enrolled in a master's program, which took all of seven years to complete, while stopping and starting again, and changing her program several times.
These things are highlighted because they were part of her struggles, journey, healing process, failures, and accomplishments. She dropped out a few times, failed some classes that she then repeated, and made numerous changes while on this path. By God's grace and strength, she diligently kept going and maintained an average of 3.08 to 3.56, and sometimes higher and or slightly lower. One part of this book in Part 2, "The Heart of Me/a.k.a. Straight From My Heart," is a book that she wrote and completed at the beginning of this journey in 2008. Now, fourteen years later, it is finally being published. According to the Bible Study website, the number fourteen means "Double measure of spiritual perfection of God's people." The number seven is completion and rest in the Bible. According to the Bible Study website, the number six represents "Man and human weakness, sin and Satan."
This symbolism is significant to understand because while finishing this part of her life's journey, it allowed her to see God's plan more clearly. On her path, Satan was always trying to stop her from walking in the way of the Lord. However, God is faithful and has given her the courage and strength to go forward with a mighty testimony and do His will for His glory. We are never too old to go back to school, to start a new journey, or to dare to hope and/or change our paths. Despite the struggles, she finds complete joy in this journey and is looking forward to what is to come. Her prayer is that in these pages, others will see Jesus, and find strength, hope, encouragement, and joy in their journeys too.
