An Amazing Journey
Vivien Kelly from County Derry shares her story of loss and new life.
(From the July - September 2020 issue of VOX)
I had a normal happy childhood living with my Granny and Granda and they spoilt me rotten. But I lost my Granda when I was just 16. I had this big emptiness in my life that I tried to fill with drink and drugs.
At 19, I took a really bad overdose. It was so bad that the paramedics phoned my family to say, “We don’t know if she will make it.” I remember a tunnel and at the end of this tunnel, I could see this figure. Then suddenly I felt hands pump on my chest and I woke up but there were no doctors or nurses in my room. Something changed in me from that day onwards. I got things a bit more under control. I met my husband Jonathan and we had three kids but I was still drinking to fill the void in my life.
Then when I was 25, we lost a baby. I carried her to full term but she died and we had to bury her on the day she was due to be born. Things were just horrible.
We moved to Derry city in an attempt to make life better. One day a Presbyterian minister came to my door. I thought, “Seriously, what do you want?” He kept coming to the house and eventually I thought, “I’m going to have to let you in because you are not leaving me alone.”
“My first thought was, ‘What is going to church going to do for me?’”
When he encouraged me to go back to church my first thought was, “What is going to church going to do for me?” But I said, “Okay” - more to satisfy him and not because I wanted to.
I went the following Sunday and I loved it! I began to think back to when I took the overdose and to wonder, “What happened that day?” I always put it down to my Granda but I realised it was the grace of God that saved my life.
God gave me my life back!
Finally, two and a half years ago I gave my life to Jesus. This massive weight lifted off my shoulders. It is like that sense of relief you get when you arrive home after a long day and sit down! All the burdens were gone and my life turned around.
I would not be the person I am today without Jesus. It is just an amazing journey to be on. Now, when I wake up in the morning, I say, “Ok Lord, the day is yours.”
I volunteer on the Hope Bus in Derry city centre. A lot of youngsters are getting into drugs and the paramilitaries are after them. We serve free tea and coffee and provide a place of safety for them. Some are really hungry because they are not getting enough to eat at home so we give them some food. Once a month, people share stories about what God has done in their life and the young people are so open.
Since lockdown we can’t go out on the bus. I was listening to the lyrics of a worship song, “Is somebody going to testify to the Lord?” And I prayed, “Lord I need a chance to share my testimony.” Then a friend texted to ask if I would chat with VOX magazine!
It took longer for Jonathan to find faith but he has always enjoyed listening to worship songs and he made a playlist of worship music to listen to at his work. Then one day just before Christmas, he was listening to a song and he suddenly realised, “That’s me.” When he came in that night, there was something completely different about him. Five days later he told me, “I gave my life to the Lord while I was at work.” It was the best thing ever!
