Left, but Not Alone

Book excerpt: Life isn’t easy for Brooklyn Rideaux. Growing up in “the ward” in Houston, Texas, Brooklyn feels like her family is always evolving. First, her mother, Mama Betty, takes in a newborn whose mother couldn’t care for her anymore, and then Brooklyn’s three cousins come to live with her. And to top it off, Brooklyn’s sister, Pearl, just had a baby of her own. Add in Brooklyn’s elderly live in grandmother, and Brooklyn feels like she’s lost in the shuffle. After Brooklyn’s father, Tommy Boy, is sent to prison, Mama Betty does what she can to keep the family together. But the more Brooklyn feels pushed to the side and unwanted, the more she feels pressured to look for love in other places—often resulting in harsh consequences and a life full of drama. It’s not until after a failed suicide attempt that Brooklyn realizes she needs to change and then accepts the Lord into her life as her Savior. It is only through God’s help and love that Brooklyn will be able to overcome life’s obstacles and seek His ultimate plan for her. Will she rely on God’s help to free herself from the obstacles keeping her from His plan for her life?