A year lost, a life found

A year ago, my life looked nothing like it does today. I was behind bars, angry, lost, and ashamed. I had spent so much time chasing the wrong things — pride, distractions, and quick fixes — that I had forgotten what really matters. My time in jail forced me to stop, to listen, and to face myself honestly for the first time in years.

In that silence, something unexpected happened — I "truly" found God again. I was raised Catholic, but for a long time my faith had become something I kept in the background. Before coming to jail, I was attending Sunday service at Liberty Baptist Church. I witnessed some truly amazing messages! I would be in the church telling myself I was going to turn my life and will over to God this time only to take back control the moment I walked out of the church doors. During those long days and nights in a small cell, I started to pray again. I opened my heart and asked God for forgiveness, guidance, and the strength to become a better man. I began praying the Rosary daily and reading from my study bible and the Catholic Catechism. I was drawn to the history of the Saints and trying to emulate them in my own faith journey. The result was slowly; grace and the Holy Spirit began to work on me.

My faith reminded me of what’s truly important — being a good husband, a loving father, and a faithful servant of God. I realized how much I had taken my family for granted. I thought I was "providing", but I wasn’t present. I was living for myself, not for them. Now, every moment with my wife and children feels sacred. Family isn’t just part of life — it is life.

I don’t pretend to have it all figured out. I’m still learning, still rebuilding, still growing. But I know this: life is not about status, money, or reputation. It’s about love, forgiveness, and faith. It’s about showing up for the people who love you and trusting that God can make something beautiful out of your brokenness.

This blog is my way of sharing that journey — the struggles, the blessings, and the lessons I learn along the way. If you’re reading this and you feel like it’s too late to change, it’s not. God never stops calling us home.