Pain Raised Me, God Saved Me I was born into a life of lack. Not just the kind of lack you feel when your favorite toy breaks or your allowance runs out-but the kind that lives in your bones. The kind that teaches you early on that survival isn't guaranteed, and comfort is a luxury. My father wore a uniform and served his country, but that didn't mean much in the walls of our home. He was stationed overseas, a distant figure who sent money sometimes, letters less often, and love... rarely. His absence echoed in every corner of the house, and the burden of raising a family fell squarely on my mother-unemployed, under-supported, and overwhelmed.