Change: the act or instance of making or becoming different. Today, it was brought to my attention that a customer of mine was approached with a warning about me. Having listened to what was said, I can only reply, Its all true. It was suggested that I changed my facebook page to hide my identity - and that I have another page on facebook with my real name. I am going to address this matter for the world to see. Once you have read this, you can delete me as a friend, refuse to do business with me, go around and spread gossip, falsely accuse me of other things - you can do with it what you will. It is what it is. From the age of 10 years old until I was 30 I have been in and out of boys homes, detention centers, jails and prison. I have made many bad choices in life and as a result, I have spent many nights away from family. I have no one to blame for anything that I have done but me: no one. In 2010, my life began to change. A reality began to set in that 1) I would never have a relationship with my family if my behaviors did not change; 2) I would lose my wife; and 3) I could possibly end up dead. I knew I had to change and I have. It began with separating myself from people who meant me nothing but harm. People who used me as a puppet; befriended me only for their personal gain and because I was so weak-minded, I let them. I allowed people who I thought were my friends to manipulate and use me up until the point I was disliked by so many. I was at a crossroads in 2010: Change or give up. Many nights I contemplated taking my own life but out of fear of where I would spend eternity and the pain it would bring to my family, I chose the hardest path and that was CHANGE! Since 2010 I have been a law-abiding citizen. I have been a good father and a good husband. I wake up daily at 4:30 a.m. or shortly thereafter and I work until 10:30 or 11:00 p.m. at night - doing all I can to support my family. My daughter means everything to me and she was reason enough to change who I was. Today, there are those who know me. From judges, lawyers, doctors, police and sheriffs officers. Many of them I call friends. They can attest to who I am today vs. who I was three years ago. They know me and know me well. I have judges, lawyers and so forth on this facebook who I communicate with daily and who have encouraged me to be the man I am today and have helped me to repair my reputation in the community where I live and run a business. I cannot change my past. I would do anything to erase it and start over. I would go to the end of the world trying to wipe the memory clean of anyone who knows my faults - but it is impossible. The only thing I can do is hold my head high and know that God has made major changes in my life and has brought me to a place where I desire to be a better man. I am not perfect - I have made mistakes even in the process of changing. But I will say this in response to the warning issued to my customer: Since 2012 I have owned businesses in Franklin County. Not one customer in this town or coast to coast can say I have done anything less than went above and beyond to do what is right. I have earned the repeat business of hundreds of customers nationwide and I refuse to let the devil bring me back to a place of depression and heartache. I have been making progress every day since 2010 and I will not stop moving forward. To those who have felt it necessary to broadcast my past, God Bless you. You are who I am striving to be - PERFECT! The Bible teaches us that ALL have fallen short and that to judge is to be judged. 99% of those who judge me today for what I did in times past sit on a pew each and every Sunday and profess with their mouths to be men and women of God. If you are truly a Christian, forgive me and let me prove myself. I am 35-years-old. I had to start somewhere because nowhere was not an option. To anyone who has ill feelings towards me, or to anyone that I may have wronged, please accept my apology. If there is something I need to do to make things right, please let me know and I will do all within my power. I am opening my soul up to everyone and saying from the depths of my heart, Give me a chance to show who I have become before you judge me for who I was. If you cant find that in your heart, delete me as a friend on here and do what you feel is necessary. To those who remain, I appreciate your friendship more than anything. Please continue to pray for me that somehow, some way, one day I can live down the old man and be recognized for who I am today. By the way... its Brian Ashley Whitfield.
Posted on: Tue, 05 Aug 2014 16:58:57 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015