Jason Frenn - Power to Reinvent Yourself: How to Break the Destructive Patterns in Your Life

Copyright 2010 by Jason Frenn

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FaithWords

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First eBook Edition: October 2010

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ISBN: 978-0-446-57484-6

To

A great person

A great Christian

A great example

A great mom

Roberta Hart

T HANK Y OU , God, for reaching into my heart and giving me life and freedom. All the truth, insight, and power found in the pages of this book come from You. Thank You for giving me such a great family (past, present, and future) and for helping us break the chains!

Thank you, Cindee, Celina, Chanel, and Jazmin (the ladies of my life) for encouraging, inspiring, and supporting me through this project. I am one of the most fortunate men on the planet, because you are some of the most wonderful people I know. I thank God for allowing me the privilege of having you in my life.

Thank you, Mom, for your wonderful support in this project. I am very proud to be your son. Youve become an outstanding example of what the power of God can do in the life of an individual, and thats why I am pleased to dedicate this book to you.

Thank you, Richard and Janice Larson, for being wonderful in-laws and for sharing two great stories with me that will greatly impact those who read this book.

Thank you, Dad and PJ, for always being there with a warm heart and an encouraging attitude. I am pleased to see the growth and maturity in your lives over the years. Thank you for loving me so faithfully.

Thank you, Steve Larson and Melodee Gruetzmacher, for taking the time to study this document and help me become a better writer. I love and appreciate you and consider myself a very fortunate brother-in-law to both of you.

Thank you, Kathleen Stevens, for poring over this book several times. You are a first-rate editor with a heart to help people understand truth and experience new beginnings. It was an honor to work with someone of your caliber.

Thank you, Holly Halverson, for being the principal editor and giving overall guidance on the project. God has given you a wonderful gift, and everyone who knows you feels the same! Thank you for stepping in when you did and helping me make this book what it has become.

Thank you, Joey Paul, for your friendship, wisdom, and spiritual concern for people. Hachette Book Group is a richer company because of your presence in the organization.

Thank you, Rolf Zettersten and Harry Helm, for inviting me to be a part of the FaithWords family. I am a very proud author to work with such a fine organization. Thank you, Shanon Stowe, Preston Cannon, Pamela Clements, and the entire sales force at Hachette Book Group. There are many people who dream of working with people as professional and as capable as you!

Thank you, Kristin Cole, Jodi Phillip, and A. Larry Ross, for helping us get the word out. Your friendship is something I cherish. I couldnt do it without you!

Thank you, Mari-Lee Ruddy, for always being a great friend and advisor. Thank you, Rick and Evangeline Zorehkey for being such great and inspirational examples to those who need Gods power and love.

T HE PHONE CALL CAME at one of the most difficult times in her life. Nearly three months after she watched her only son move with his wife and child to Costa Rica to be missionaries, her husbands physical condition had deteriorated considerably. In the span of a few short days, he lost his ability to speak. There was little hope for recovery. When the phone rang at 4:00 a.m., the voice on the other end somberly said, I am sorry, Mrs. Hart. Your husband passed away this morning.

That day my mom, at age forty-six, became a widow. Her only companion was a small lapdog named Peanut. Over time, she sank into depression, and each day the walls seemed to close in a bit more.

After the death of her husband, my stepfather, Moms alcohol use increased substantially. Every day at 5:00 p.m., she would pour herself the first of many drinks. By midnight, she would consume nearly fifty ounces of wine.

One night she reached the end of her rope and called me in Costa Rica from the United States. My husband died and made me a widow, she said. My grandchild no longer lives in this country. I see you every three or four years. I have no job. I have no friends. I have no family. I have no life! Then there were no words, just sobs.

It was a painful moment. Anything I could have said had already been said. Any words of comfort would not have found a home in her heart. Even if they had, the alcohol would have erased them within minutes. It was only by the grace of God that Mom managed to get through the next several months. Given the fact that we lived over three thousand miles away, there were few options but to pray.

One afternoon, the middle-aged couple living next door invited Mom to join them for a few drinks and hors doeuvres. At first she was hesitant, because she was trying to cut back on her drinking. The neighbors were kind, though, and offers like that didnt come every day. So she agreed to go for a short visit. The conversation was light. The atmosphere was pleasant. It was perhaps the first time in months that she enjoyed herself.

After several hours, the festivities began to wind down. Mom graciously thanked her hosts and headed for the door. By then, it was dark. She took about five steps outside and realized that she couldnt see a thing. The absence of streetlights made the journey home challenging. The two glasses of wine didnt help either. Carefully placing one foot in front of the other, she continued the seventy-foot walk back to her house.

After she passed the property line and headed up the incline next to her porch, Moms shoe caught the edge of a large stone. Before she knew what was happening, she fell face first into the large, jagged rocks that covered the embankment next to the driveway. Her nose was fractured. Her face was severely cut. Her head was spinning. With a minor concussion, she somehow stumbled onto the driveway, made it inside the house, and headed for the bathroom.