I write music because a song saved my life. I grew up as a Pastor’s kid in Northern California and since I can remember I’ve believed in Jesus. Because I was known for my faith, I would get made fun of by my peers. This was particularly bad in 7th grade. It got to the point where I was followed home from school and was verbally and physically attacked.
Once I was taken out of my school district and put in another one, we discovered that the bullying had followed me by spreading over Myspace & my parents had to homeschool me.
Before I was officially diagnosed with Major Depression & PTSD, I became suicidal.
I felt a crippling fear that I was always being followed & that everyone in my life felt the way my bullies felt about me. I decided that the only way to deal with the pain was to end it all.
Right before I was about to take my own life, God called to mind the song “Take Me” by Hawk Nelson
“Take me under your wing tonight, Make me so perfect in your eyes, Hold on, it’ll be alright. you’re not alone… And you’ll be here forever, forever you’ll stay & you promised to love me, you’ll love me always.”
Instead of ending my life, these lyrics became my cry for help & my response to God coming through at that moment. I immediately became their biggest fan & it led me down an alternative Christian rock band rabbit hole. I was able to find healing from the trauma through professional help and concerts. Every time I met a new artist I would ask myself:
“If the people who knew me, could be so cruel and hurt me… Then, why are these people, who don’t know me, so kind and loving?”
I learned quickly that this kindness was because of their belief in Jesus. I experienced the love of Christ through those alternative rock boy bands & now I want to do what they did for me.
By Grace Graber.