Good morning everyone. I know if you are reading this article right now that it is a good morning! Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Rosie Culbert, I am a beautiful black woman, intelligent, kind hearted, and I am able to withstand anything that may come my way. My passion is teaching kids in the classroom and mentoring them outside of the classroom. I love God and my family very much. WHY? Because He first loved me; God has blessed me time after time, and I am truly grateful. The Lord has seen me through various trials and tribulations, and when it seemed like my back was against the wall and there was no way out, I prayed through it. I prayed, “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change and the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

Reader, are you ready to read about my struggles? To my three sons and family that I love with all my heart, I am so sorry; I apologize for never telling you all about this incident. I have reached a place in my life now that I am able to forgive the man that wronged me. Now I am able to talk about the man in the neighborhood that raped me. I cannot remember my age, but I was very young and very afraid, and I never told my parents. Even though the man was never put into jail, I survived what he did to me. For example, I graduated from high school and was blessed to marry my now deceased husband Mr. Dan Culbert. We were married for 17 long years, through the good and bad times, we stayed together.

Throughout my marriage, there were times that I wanted to give up. For a while, things between my husband and I were not the best. At one point, I left my husband and moved to Vicksburg with our three sons. I had no money and no job, but God saw us through everything. I soon found a job in a grocery store, and enrolled my children in the Vicksburg school system. When my husband found us, he was determined to take his boys home with him. He knew I would not allow our children to go anywhere without me. After we returned home, things changed for the better. If a man truly loves and trusts God, he will find what he has lost. This is just another example of how God continued to show His favor throughout my struggles.

One day, while working at the grocery store, I met an older lady named mom Bolt. Mom Bolt was a praying woman, and she had love for all people. She taught me how to pray and told me to let God fight my battles. I took her advice and trusted God with my situation; the result was that my marriage lasted until my husband’s death. Again, with God’s help, I survived. Today, I still miss my husband, but I know that my life has changed for the better because of my faith in God. Life is filled with struggles, but I am not concerned because God will always have my back.

I am a changed woman, because God has turned my negative struggles into positive blessings. So positive that on Sunday in Fayette, I will be telling my story at New Life Empower Church, off of Highway 61. The Pastor is the Rev. Lynell Thompson. The program will begin at 10:30 am and this program is will be dedicated to motivating our students for the 2016- 2017 school year.

All students, families and friends are welcome to attend the program.

 

Rosie Culbert is a Franklin County resident.