Miracle Moments
Brought to you by: Molly Maid of Birmingham, www.mollymaid.com/birmingham
“Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for You are the one I praise.” Jeremiah 17:14
My mother was abused as a child, and throughout her struggles, she developed a mental illness that was not diagnosed or treated until very late in life. It presented difficulties in her relationships and there was significant instability in my life.
I didn’t have a consistent father figure or role model and was in desperate need of guidance. I became one of the first few boys to live at Big Oak and moved into John and Tee’s home along with the other boys. Living at the Ranch provided me the stability and security I needed to find my purpose and put my focus on positive growth in my life. During such important developmental years, I found the father figure I needed, I realized what family means and was shown such love and respect from John and Tee.
As I transitioned out of the Ranch, I knew from what I learned at Big Oak that I wanted to build a solid marriage, to be a great father to my future children and to center it all on Jesus. My wife Kaysi and I will soon celebrate our 39th wedding anniversary. We have three grown children and six grandchildren. Our children are saved, have thriving families, and are raising their children in Christian homes. We always strived to parent in the way God was leading and I am so thankful for the great role models I had in John and Tee.
In addition, not only did my mother become whole again, healthy and regretful of the past, I found healing too. I now have the opportunity to capture family legacies through my portrait studio in Cartersville, Ga., Darrah Photo, which is in its 20th year. At 61, I look back on my life and I’m so grateful for my time at Big Oak – for the legacy that extends throughout my family. I have nothing but great memories of living there and am happy to know so many kids have been given the same chance I was given so many years ago.
-Grey Darrah
