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I attended a conference a few weeks ago with a guy named Brant Hanson. He wrote a book called Unoffendable. He talked about being a peacemaker and what that means, addressing anger and anxiety. He then shared a powerful insight: You can't be a peacemaker if you're not at peace with yourself. His antidote for anxiety and depression is simply gratitude. Gratitude is more than just a polite gesture of saying thank you. It's an essential aspect of mental health that can affect our overall well-being. Research has shown that practicing gratitude can reduce stress, depression, and anxiety while improving sleep quality, self-esteem, and overall happiness. When we express gratitude, our brains release dopamine and serotonin, important neurotransmitters that regulate our moods and emotions, helping us feel happier, more content, and less stressed.  The Power of Gratitude
Even thinking about how we are so inclined as human beings towards anxiety—especially as we get older and the world changes—knowing that the antidote is simply being grateful and recognizing the good things in our lives is profound. This morning, I was sitting on my patio of my modest, small house with a couple of old cars, and I realized I have safety and health. Many people in the world don't have a house. There are people I work with at the shelter who don't have an address. We often take for granted that we have food in the refrigerator and safety in our homes. For those of us who follow Jesus, Scripture has emphasized gratitude for years. For example:
Living a Grateful Life Running a nonprofit and taking care of women and kids isn't easy, just like many of your jobs. But it takes people. Our carriage house is full tonight, which is rare for the summer, but I'm grateful. I'm grateful for the goodness of God and for all of you who help us. We wouldn't be here without our donors, friends, community, volunteers, and those who bring us essentials and offer encouraging words. This morning, I find myself very grateful. Spending time with an old friend that I haven't seen in years reminded me that with God, there are no chance meetings. Everything is ordered and orchestrated by a good God. As I close, let's all practice being grateful. Gratitude and anxiety cannot coexist. If you're a follower of Jesus, continually be grateful for God who offers grace and mercy daily, taking us out of darkness and into the light. We have so many things to be thankful for. God bless you guys. Have a great day and a great rest of your week.
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At God's Shelter of Love, we believe in providing more than just shelter—we offer hope, love, and a path to a brighter future. Our mission, rooted in Christian values, has remained steadfast since we began in the early 90s. We are blessed to be the only women's and children's shelter in Decatur, serving as a beacon of hope for those in need. Today, we share the inspiring story of Rotunda Montgomery, a testament to the transformative power of faith and community.  A Call for HelpIn May 2023, Rotunda Montgomery found herself at a crossroads. Trapped in an abusive relationship and with no financial or familial support, she felt lost and desperate. In a moment of courage, she reached out to God's Shelter of Love, a decision that would change her life forever. "I didn't know people that you don't know could care about you so much," Rotunda shared, reflecting on her initial experience with our shelter. Her words encapsulate the essence of our mission—to provide unconditional love and support to those who seek our help. A Journey of TransformationWhile staying at God's Shelter of Love, Rotunda received not just shelter, but a wealth of support and guidance. Our dedicated team worked tirelessly to help her achieve goals she once thought impossible. Through the grace of God, Rotunda's life began to transform. "I have money saved which I never had. I have a car. I got an apartment, and I have a driver's license," she proudly stated. These milestones are more than just material achievements; they represent a newfound sense of independence and confidence. Rotunda's journey is a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when we come together as a community, guided by faith and compassion.  A New Beginning
Nine months after her arrival, Rotunda is ready to embark on a new chapter of her life. She is moving out of the shelter, equipped with the tools and confidence to live independently. But as she leaves, she carries with her more than just tangible assets—she carries the love and support of a family. "When I came here, I came by myself, but I'm leaving with a family that is God's Shelter of Love," Rotunda said, her voice filled with gratitude and hope. A Grateful Heart At God's Shelter of Love, we are profoundly grateful for the opportunity to serve individuals like Rotunda. Her story is a testament to the power of faith, community, and unwavering support. We thank all our donors, volunteers, and supporters who make our mission possible. As we continue to serve as the hands and feet of Jesus, we invite you to join us in our mission. Your support helps us provide a safe and loving home for more women and children in need, transforming lives one story at a time. God bless you for being a part of our family and for making a difference in the lives of those we serve. Together, we are building a brighter, more hopeful future. Join Us in Our Mission If Rotunda's story has touched your heart, we encourage you to get involved. Whether through donations, volunteering, or spreading the word, your support is invaluable. Together, we can continue to provide love, hope, and a path to a brighter future for those in need. God's Shelter of Love is more than a shelter—it's a family. Thank you for being a part of our journey and for helping us make a lasting impact in our community. God bless you!  At God's Shelter of Love, we run on a shoestring budget. Every dollar is stretched to the max, ensuring it directly benefits the women and children who seek our help. Our thrift store, Blessingdales, and the meticulous care of our Operations Manager, Julie Welker, who accounts for every roll of paper towel, stand as testament to our thrifty nature. But here’s the thing: no matter how carefully we budget, the real game-changer is unrestricted gifts. These are the donations that don’t come with specific instructions. They allow us to address urgent needs and keep our doors open for those in crisis. Restricted gifts are fantastic and deeply appreciated, but they come with specific guidelines on how they must be used. For example, a donor might give money specifically for new bedding or educational programs. While these gifts are incredibly valuable, they don't allow us the flexibility to cover everyday expenses or unexpected emergencies. Imagine a cold winter night when a family knocks on our door, seeking warmth and safety. Or even our boiler that unexpectedly went out a couple of years ago. Unrestricted gifts give us the flexibility to handle these situations immediately, ensuring no one is turned away and our facilities remain safe and welcoming. These gifts also help us plan for the future. They let us dream a little bigger, improve our services, and invest in our dedicated team. Without unrestricted funds, we couldn't train our staff or upgrade our facilities. These investments are crucial for providing the best care possible to the women and children we serve. As a pastor, I can’t express enough how thankful I am for every single donation. Each one is a testament to God’s provision. Unrestricted gifts, in particular, show a deep trust in our mission and stewardship. They enable us to be responsive, compassionate, and effective in our work. So, from the bottom of my heart, I urge you to consider the impact of unrestricted gifts. Your generosity ensures that God's Shelter of Love can continue to be a beacon of hope and a safe haven for those in need. Thank you for your support, and may God bless you abundantly for your kindness. Together, we can keep being the hands and feet of Jesus, bringing light and love to the lives of those we serve. God bless you, Dan Watkins   Everyone has a story. Tabitha’s began at age 3 when her mom left her father saying, “Tabitha is too much trouble to care for.” After struggling with alcohol addiction for over 20 years, Tabitha walked into the Careage House 6 months sober and determined to make a better life for herself.
Tabitha had always found housing, but had to escape a household that had become toxic and detrimental to her sobriety and well-being. She needed more reliability and security so that she could focus on finding employment, staying sober, and becoming self-sufficient. “I was seeking stability and safety - I found a second family at the Careage House” she said. The Careage house is the only emergency shelter for women and children in Decatur, providing more than 3,800 safe nights of sleep a year. Tabitha didn’t need the full resources of a 24-hour shelter, but knowing she could get a good night’s rest without fear of outside influences and dangers gave her the peace of mind to move forward. Today, she is flourishing. She works at both Blessingdale’s and the Downtown Cafe, secured a permanent apartment, and will be 6 years sober in April 2024 all on her own. “It’s not about what we go through, but how we deal with it,” Says Tabitha. We are proud not only to have helped her when she needed it most, but to continue to invest in her as our employee and friend.  Mary was a 33-year-old woman. She had a college degree & if she walked in the door, you wouldn't know she was homeless.
She had a cocaine problem in college that destroyed her life. She would often say, "I don't deserve to be here, I have a degree." We would walk with her, pray with her, listen to her story & help her dream. She got a job & worked night shift during the pandemic. She would return from work around 11 o'clock at night. We helped her with some budgeting & she was able to move on to permanent housing. When she left the shelter, she left with $8,000.  Ushma was a 65-year-old grandmother who was caring for her 9-year-old grandson, Alm. They had been living in Chicago & came to Decatur because Ushma had been promised a job at a hotel. She was given an office and a mattress and was put to work for 16 hours a day.
Thankfully, the school that Alm began attending contacted God's Shelter of Love and asked if we could help. Of course, we took them into our shelter. Communicating was a challenge because Ushma & Alm were from India and spoke Hindi. One of our board members happened to have a neighbor that spoke Hindi. He generously spent many hours helping to translate Ushma's story. We found out that Ushma had custody of Alm because Alm's mother had been killed in India and his father had shaken him as an infant, to the point of causing brain damage. Alm had the mentality of a 4-year-old because of this. We worked with them to better understand their culture, their needs, and their goals. We provided shelter, resources, stability, and worked with Decatur Public Schools to address Alm's learning disability. Ushma & Alm stayed in our shelter for about three months as they found their footing and prepared for their big move to New Jersey.
Now that Blessingdales has re-opened its doors to the public, GSOL’s Executive Director Dan Watkins wants to keep it that way! Dan and his Blessingdales crew are going above and beyond to ensure the cleanliness and safety of the resale staff, store, and its donated items. Along with the store’s usual daily disinfectant of all carts, door hands, and switches, Blessingdales has also invested in a new ionized salt water mister.
This new handheld machine allows for the store and all of its contents to be completely sanitized every night. It contains an ionized salt water solution that, when sprayed on the donated items, sanitizes on contact. This ensures that all new items, along with the items being shopped daily, are deep cleaned each and every day! Watkins states, “I just want our customers to rest assured we not only follow all guidelines given to us, but we also exceed them for our customers’ shopping protection.” Blessingdales and God’s Shelter of Love have been blessed with support from the Decatur community and continue to provide help and hope to those in need. Following the local and state recommended CDC safety guidelines is just the minimum when it comes to the effort that Decatur’s own Blessingdales Thrift Shop is making to ensure that its customers have the best post-quarantine shopping experience possible!  "I lived at the shelter for an entire year. The shelter was a safe place for me to stay sober and remove myself from access to alcohol; God's Shelter of Love gave me hope." Kathy first came to us in 2007 - an alcoholic seeking help. She knew that if she wanted to stop drinking, she needed a change in environment. So, on a day where she felt helpless and hopeless, she contacted us. We helped her enroll in Heritage Behavioral Health Center's 30-day detox program. Afterward, she came to live in our women's shelter. "I couldn't have done it without the shelter," Kathy explains. I needed a soft place to fall. The shelter has become the foundation I never had."
After Kathy got sober and found housing, she started volunteering at Blessingdale's Thrift Store to continue supporting the shelter that gave her so much help and hope. Kathy now serves as a Resident Supervisor at God's Shelter of Love - providing food, support and love to the homeless women and children seeking a soft place to fall. "The most rewarding part of my job is to let residents know they are loved and cared for and to share the love of God," says Kathy.
But after two and a half years of him abusing me, I left him. Just about every relationship I’ve been in since has been abusive. I always want to help, but men seem to always take advantage of me. My drinking problem got serious around age 23 or 24.
After 20 years in Colorado, I began missing my family a lot, and I moved in with my sister and her husband in Indiana in 2015. Then my brother-in-law lost his job and they moved to California to live with his father, under cramped conditions. I had a married nephew at Scott Air Force Base near St. Louis, and he invited me to live with him because he had an extra bedroom. But he had marital problems and with all the extra stress, my drinking got out of hand to the point that I ended up in a rehab facility in Centralia, which discharged me to the Freedom House in Decatur. Their van drove me to the Freedom House in April 2018. For me, so many of the situations were so stressful that my existing problems with depression and anxiety were becoming unmanageable. In Colorado, I had worked in property management for eight years and was in charge of owner relations for a large company. I also worked as a sales associate at a Pier 1, both in Colorado and then in Fairview Heights. So I had no trouble being hired at the Pier 1 in Forsyth (an hour’s commute by bus). I only get 15 to 20 hours a week as an associate. I could become a lead associate, but I don’t have a car, which is required to make bank deposits. I could have had my own place by now, but I have financially helped my boyfriend and his 70-year-old father, who are also homeless. He’s a really nice guy and treats me very well, but it’s been difficult considering our living situation. On October 1, I started staying at the Careage House. I was very impressed with the cleanliness and peacefulness there. It was refreshing. I had never set foot in a homeless shelter before. I really appreciate the meals starting November 1. Before that, the most stressful part of my day was trying to figure out how to get something healthy to eat. I’ve battled drinking for the last 20+ years. I’d love to return to Colorado, but it would have to be a different area, because the people I know there are into a lot of drugs and drinking. When my sister gets her own place in California, I might move there. I’ve been sober a little over seven months now and plan to just keep taking it a day at a time. I hope to have my own place soon and continue to improve my life and myself spiritually and physically. Thanks to everyone who supports the Careage House; I don’t know where I would be without it! |
