Meet Sherry King

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sherry King. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sherry below.

Sherry, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?

Coming from a single parent home and the second child of five children, my mother always portrayed a good work ethic. Even though we were on Government Assistance my Mother always had a job. Growing up I didn’t catch on to having a good work ethic. I worked a few jobs where I started off being that good employee who had a promising career but because of my circle of friends we were always getting into different situations that caused me to lose focus and I would quit the job for no apparent reason. I hung out with the older crowd and going to clubs. Because I picked up drinking and smoking cigarettes that’s when I would work the different jobs and when pay day came, the job ended. I had to go through ups and downs. More downs than I should have had to go through. I got pregnant when I was 21 years old. I would have thought that would have been my wake up call but it wasn’t. But because it was no longer myself I had to take care of another little human guy that needed me, I needed him because he saved my life. And I had to fight the life that would ultimately end my life if I kept going down that path of sex, drugs and alcohol. When my son was born I got on Government Assistance and tried to get on a good path. I started back going to church. Church has always been in my life. My Grandmother made sure. But when the weekend came, it was party time. I made sure my son was safe and I went out to the clubs. But I knew deep down that this isn’t the life God had for me. And I wanted more. Hustling wasn’t working out for me. Because of the choices I made I got arrested several times. Some for DUI and driving without license and fraud. I was placed on probation which I stopped reporting. I figured they were waiting on me to mess up which they were right. Two years later I was dating this guy and we were high. When I got high I became angry around him and we would fight. The New Year had came in and towards the end of the month when we were getting high and my son was in the other room sleeping. I actually stopped fighting him and I got my son up. It probably was about 5 am as kids were getting ready for school. My Mom and I stayed in the same apartment complex. I didn’t know then why I taking him to my Mom but I know it was God. I walked my son to my Mom’s house and usually she would have something to say but she didn’t say a word. I asked her to take care of my son and she took his hand and I walked away. During this time the guy called the police and they arrested him for a warrant and when I got to my apartment they were coming to the door. I should have closed and locked the door but I couldn’t close the door. They came in and ran my name. I gave them my nickname first and then I just told the truth. I asked them,,”What took y’all so long”. I was tired. Taking you back to the previous months in November I got into a situation where the guy was buying me groceries if I gave him money for drugs but he didn’t hold up to his side of the deal. I went home and went into the bathroom looking for some aspirin because I started getting a bad headache. I had been drinking that day. My headache was getting worse and because of the deal went bad I started crying. As I sat on the toilet looking for aspirin, I found a new bottle and I began taking one pill after another because I just wanted my headache to go away. When I realized what I had done I had taken half of the bottle of pills. I became frightened. All I could do was call on the Lord. My Grandmother’s Lord and the Lord I believed in. I asked for forgiveness and I told the Lord I wanted to live. I begged Jesus to help me. I could feel a sense of power. I stayed up until the sun came because I was afraid to go to sleep. I couldn’t tell anyone what I just did. Even though I continued doing what I did something was happening. Moving forward to my arrest both me and the guy were in the same car going to the Police station. All I could do is cry. I wasn’t afraid or upset. I was glad because something was happening right at that moment. As I cried the taste of the drugs and cigarettes were being taken away from me. A true super natural miracle was taking place. And I was happy and humbled. When I got to the station we were standing side by side and I apologized to him and prayed everything will be alright with him. Because my journey was beginning. I served 6 months away from my son. When I got out I did go back to the old crowd but it wasn’t the same so I said my good byes and I found a new path and new friends who became my brother and sister in Christ. God took the drugs and cigarettes from me but He showed me where He was taking me I want need the alcohol. He gave me the power to stop drinking alcohol and I accepted it. My work ethic became better than good. I enjoy working and serving people who are placed in my care. I enjoy saving money and traveling. I’m able to do more now than I ever expected.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

My name is Sherry and Georgia is my residence. I’m 51 years old. Professionally I am focused on my job where I work with people with disabilities. With two full time jobs I am able to assist in another person’s life. I get to see them grow through the good and bad times. I love seeing them have full of life with not a care in the world. They are very intelligent and I learn some things about myself. I get to serve them and that’s my calling. When I’m not working I enjoy writing poetry and short stories. I’ve been doing it since I was young and then one day the Lord put it in my spirit that I have something that could help someone else that may have gone through or still going through what He brought me out of. After years of writing and dealing with my past hurt, I finally finished my first book. Girl’s Pearl’s and Black-Eye Peas, Rebuilding Self Rebuilding the Village. It is on Amazon. I will be starting on Volume 2 in the upcoming New Year.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back I was a true friend. My love for people were genuine. I always wanted to see the best in others and I had to see it first for myself. I believed that there was more to my life than what I was doing at that moment. I was hopeful and I had people who believed in me for better. The advice I would give someone on their journey is be accountable. You’re feelings are real. Deal with them as it comes. Opposition will come but you have to keep pushing your way through to get to that finish line. Even when it hurts and you may feel alone. You’re not alone.And it’s a race in each level of our lives. Continue learning and growing. I believe in you.

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?

The most impactful thing my Mom did for me was let me stay in jail. She always told us that if we go to jail, she doesn’t do visitation or send money. When I had to serve my time, my mother visited me and she brought my son. With the glass wall between me and my son it broke me. I broke my little son’s heart because he didn’t understand why mommy was not coming home and why he can’t go with mommy. After that visit I didn’t want him to see me like that. When I spoke with my PO he said if I had a job to go to I would get out. The position my mom was in on her job, I believed she could get me a job but when I told her she told me that maybe I need to sit awhile. And in my spirit I stopped fighting and faced my consequences. So if my mom had gotten me out before time I wouldn’t be where I am today. Still growing and excited for the future.

Contact Info:

• Facebook: Sherry King

Image Credits

Hope Messenger Writer’s