In just one week, I’m taking back something the enemy tried to steal from me—my joy, my peace, my healing. Let me share why this means everything.
May 13, 2003. A day forever etched in my life. It was the day my dress caught fire, and I suffered burns that scarred over half my body. It marked the beginning of the most painful, exhausting, and life-altering journey I’ve ever walked through. Recovery wasn’t just physical—it was emotional, spiritual, and deeply personal. Learning to love my scars, to embrace the pieces of my story that felt too heavy to carry, has taken years. And truthfully, it’s still a process. There are still days I wake up and have to remind myself of my beauty. There are still times when someone asks me about the scars and I shy away. There are still days where I get frustrated and angry that I still deal with open wounds and fight for healing, knowing more surgery is my future eventually. It's a never ending journey.
For so long, May 13 was a day I dreaded. A day of grief, PTSD, fear, and anxiety. A day where the flashbacks were too vivid to bear, and I couldn’t even be in my own home without reliving the trauma. It felt like the pain would never loosen its grip. It was a never ending spiral that I couldn't escape.
But God.
God has been rewriting that story. Little by little, He’s turned mourning into dancing, ashes into beauty, and brokenness into testimony. Today, May 13 is no longer a day of sorrow. It’s a day of celebration. It’s the day I survived. The day the enemy tried to take my life—but God said, “Not today.” It’s the day I now stand as living proof of what His redemption looks like. For years I've celebrated this day instead of mourning it. I celebrated in the past with trips to the Hibachi grill (I know a bit savage) and cookies to school. I've celebrated by sharing my story or wearing a scar revealing shirt. I've celebrated with worship and prayers to the Lord for the joy of the trauma healing. But there has been one thing I could never get myself to do, until this year!
And this year, something special is happening. May 13 is the day of our CORE Discipleship Intensive Graduation. I’ve been honored to serve as the admin this semester, and watching these students cross that stage will be a joy.
But there’s something else—something deeply personal.
For 22 years, I’ve avoided dresses on this day. The trauma was too real, the memories too raw. At first, I planned to play it safe—wear pants, look nice, stay comfortable. But God whispered to my heart, “Put the dress on. You’re not the same girl you were. Take back the day.” So this May 13, for the first time in over two decades, I’ll be wearing a dress on the day!!
And it’s not just fabric. It’s a declaration. A symbol of healing. A reminder that fear doesn’t get the final word—God does. I’m still on this journey, but every step is proof that He is faithful, and His love truly heals. It was during my CORE class in 2022 that I forgave the dress I was hurt in and gave 19 years of pain and negative personal narrative to the Lord. And now, 3 years later, I am taking it all back fully and never looking back!!
Here’s to reclaiming the day. Here’s to the God who never lets our pain be wasted.