Shalea’s Book

How I made it over Hills and Valleys, and climbed to my Mountain Tops An Autobiography written by Shalea Rochelle Berryhill

Table of Contents

Chapter 1  Introduction of me

Chapter 2  Hills

Chapter 3  Valleys and Mountain Tops

Chapter 4  School

Chapter 5  Shelter Life

Chapter 6  Psychiatric Ward Days

Chapter 7  A Time for Healing, Past, Present, and Future.. Reflecting

Chapter 1  Introduction of me

   Let me start by saying Thank You Jesus Christ! I believe that all of my victories and failures have been orchestrated by God and there is a greater plan than I know. Jesus Christ made it all possible in my life, and He has helped me get through the darkest of days. Now I am living in my season of restoration and healing. How did it happen? Well let me tell you, keep reading. 

   I was born in Boston, Massachusetts and my parents are Leah and Mark Berryhill. I grew up with my two siblings, Natalie and Mark Jr Berryhill. I was always an inquisitive child, reading, writing and asking my parents questions. I played outside sometimes, but I usually stayed in our home reading or playing "school" with my siblings, cousins, friends, teddy bears and doll babies. Most days I would clean up and sometimes my parents would pay me for cleaning the rooms in our 3 bedroom apartment in Roslindale, Massachusetts. 

   Looking back I was being groomed. I was being molded into the woman that I am today. Those days of structure and carefully planned out regimen helped me to have the ability to be disciplined and successful in life. Not only did my childhood prepare me for success, it helped me to be a giver. 

   I have always thought it is important to be a good listener and a good friend. I have been a good friend to my siblings, parents, family members and people that I have met in life. I have always felt that giving someone or people time and love is very important. They say your first best friends are your siblings and cousins. That is true. I have been blessed to have some awesome family. Like all family's we have our rough patches, but we get through them. My prayer is for families of all kinds to stay united, because a family that prays together truly does stay together. A family that stays together is strong and unstoppable rooted in Love.

   Present day I am sitting in my one bedroom apartment. I say to myself how did I end up living on my own and being independent? Many days I can't believe that I am living my life. I have to stop and take a breath, remembering that this is what I've been praying, waiting and working so hard for. Not a perfect life, but a functional life filled with love, hard work and dedication to family, friends and success. I always put God as my number one because he is my Creator. I often daydream about meeting God oneday. I Love God, and living for Him is a process that I have to work on everyday. The bible says work out your soul salvation with fear and trembling. The bible also says the beginning of wisdom is the fear of God. I want to see God. Scriptures with Fear are the first passages that come to mind when I think of Him. My prayer is that all people will know God intimately and live for His Son Jesus Christ. I trust God that this will be a reality. Faith the size of a mustard seed is all we need to please God.

   I am always open to possibilities and new things. My life is an open book and I hope that I am transparent for people to understand me. I don't claim to be anyone but Shalea. I want to tell my testimony in hopes of helping people heal and to win souls for Jesus Christ. My life is a miracle. God has truly done some amazing things in my life. God has used Angels, People, Animals and all Creation to touch my life and the lives of others. 

   I am a humbled individual with a lot to say. God has been too good to me, I can't be silent. I have to let the world know about this man named Jesus Christ that has turned my life around. I once was lost but thank God now I'm found. I was blind but now I can see life in a new light. I am pleased to say that I am sanctified and filled with God's Holy Spirit & blood washed with Jesus Christ’s mighty power. Not only am I a miracle, the Angels have watched over and protected me so that I can continue to fulfill God's mandate and assignment for my life. I am ready for life and all of the newness it brings. I am ready to explain how I made it over hills and valleys and climbed to my mountain tops. Please take this journey with me. Reflect on your life, and I hope that you can see yourself in my experiences and journey through life. Keep reading and I pray that you are inspired. 

Chapter 2 Hills

   Many years I was lost. Down and out and feeling depleted and desolate. I was ashamed, felt lonely and did not want to be me. I felt that if I were somebody other than me I would feel happier. I wanted to get out of the mental state of mind that I was in. I was hospitalized in a psychiatric ward for a few months maybe four times. I cannot remember because it has been over ten years since I have been taken to the hospital in an ambulance. I do remember vividly being put onto a stretcher and being told that I would have to be in a mental institution. I was scared and felt that my life was crumbling. I felt like everything that I worked so hard for was being shattered right before my eyes. I felt like my life would never get back to “normal” while I was in the hospital. I didn't feel that I could make it and live independently. I say thank God for Jesus Christ, it's in and through Him that I have been able to sustain a happier life. I can now say that my life is filled with the love and joy of Jesus Christ. God has made a way where I didn't see a path. He has brought me over and blesses me.

   I have always kept strong faith in The Most High Yah. I never gave up on Him because the whole time I was going through my mental breakdown I kept thinking, oneday God is going to turn this around. I did feel like I couldn't make it many days, but in the back of my mind I felt God nudging me forward little by little. After many years of pain I can truly say that I've been blessed. There is no doubt in my mind that God did it! He has been walking and talking with me my whole life, I just didn't really realize how close He is. When I was at my lowest and thought that I could never climb out of the hole I was in, I always felt God's presence telling me I would be alright.

   After being hospitalized I met some great people who helped me to heal mentally and emotionally. I was let out of the hospital and put into a day program. At the day programs I learned structure and how to function with routine and use my common sense. I learned a sense of independence. After I completed that day programs, I was placed in a mental health program for young people. This is where I learned to be strong and to gain more independence and a new found mental and spiritual freedom. I learned that I was not alone and that there were many other young people on similar journeys. I became well acquainted with all of the staff, clinicians, doctors, and friends. I am not going to name anyone but I will say that all of the people in the program were very instrumental in my growth. There are so many people that have walked with me and have been my spiritual guides. I call the people my spiritual guides because God used them to say just what I needed to hear. I was introduced to another organization, where I was able to identify some more specific goals that I had for my future going forward. The case workers there are amazing. My caseworker helped me to get my very first apartment. I had never lived on my own before and it was something new and challenging for me. I like to take on new things, so I figured having my own apartment would be fun. It has been a ride for me. Living on my own taught me to take care of household needs, expenses and also make appointments for myself without the help of my parents. I have truly been able to say that I am an adult, no longer a young child. I loved my years as a child, but I must say being an adult has been great! I have been able to learn so much about life, family, relationships and so much! I have evolved and grown up.

     It’s not always easy to evolve and “grow up”. It is very challenging to change and see life through new lenses. I am not an expert, although I like to think that I have some wisdom about life. I have been transparent in front of a lot of people. I had to show myself without any walls and nothing has been hidden. During my growing process there has been a lot of “growing pains'' and they are still there. I am still learning, but I wanted to write this book to not only free my mind, but to help people to see that they too have a testimony to share about how good God has been to them. We all have something unique to share and everyone does it in their own way. God knows the number of every hair on our head and knows the count of every cell in our body. Just as the snowflake is intricately detailed, so are our lives. We have been fashioned in such a way that we must shine. God places his precious light inside of us to share His glory with the world. It is no coincidence that you have faced trials in your life. It is taking some time, but I am realizing that I shouldn't worry about anything. I have also learned to take the good with the bad. Meaning, I am learning each day to trust God a little more than the day before. 

   Change is hard for everybody. Sometimes it means that we have to give up old habits and learn new ways of doing things. Doing something new takes courage and can only be done with God’s help. In our own power we cannot achieve all that we were meant to be. I believe that God has called all of us to a great destiny if yet we only believe. Many people talk about changing the world. Well what does that mean? In life there's so much despair and confusion, anger and pain. How can we change that? God is saying, believe. I am happy to say that I am on a healing journey, trying to be stronger with each passing day. Letting go of insecurities and anger, embracing love and the power of God all around me. I get excited about God’s Angel’s. My family and friends have proven to be some of God’s greatest gifts to me. They are truly Angel’s. I am also into the realm of the supernatural Angels that are in Heaven. I am glad to say that God truly has encamped His Angel’s all around me. It is the love from the people and the supernatural all around me that has guided me with a helping hand. Sometimes that help doesn't always feel so easy to bear, but I get through with God’s help. The Hills of life are here to make us strong and to strengthen our muscles. They are here to make us lean and depend on our Savior Jesus Christ. Hills are God's way of letting us know that we are on the right path. Without Hills we are not able to grow and learn. Without hardship and pain, it is hard to appreciate the good times in life. 

Chapter 3  Valleys and Mountain Tops

   Have you ever been down low and didn't see your way up. Are you currently facing that challenge? Well I can say that I am still climbing my way out of despair, and also say that God has brought me over. I am getting to where God wants me to be in stages and steps, and I do have victories that God has brought me through. I can see the bright light at the end of the tunnel. Little by little God is giving me divine signs and insight into the future. He is giving me pearls of wisdom that have sustained me. He is our daily bread. Not only have I been able to see into the future I have been able to experience life on a new level. Sometimes I get worried about what will happen to me, to this world. Then God always sends comfort my way to let me know that He is in control. Thank You Jesus Christ! He is truly on His Throne. Valleys are meant to shape us. I say this because it is in the hardest times we really get to see what we are made of. Sometimes when you are trying to get out of the Valleys of life you realize that you have a strength that you never knew you had. When there is nothing left to do but go up, you learn quickly how to reach and climb. 

   Mountain Tops are great because you feel on top of the world. It's like you are on a high in life. We are happy and joyful and full of life. We have accomplished some of the goals that we have been working on during our Mountain Tops. The Mountain Top experiences have made us appreciate life and want to continue to go forward. These experiences are fulfilling and help us to reflect on the hard work that it took for us to achieve.

   Honestly, I have experienced the hills, valleys, and mountain tops over a long span of time. I am 38 years old and I can truly say God has helped me make it over many days. Although I have overcome much, I know that God has more for me to learn and experience. Life is filled with lessons and blessings. Sometimes we are the teacher and sometimes we are the student. 

Chapter 4 School

   School has always been an outlet for me because I am able to express myself and also take instruction. Like Church, School has guided me in my life and has taught me so much. My hopes are that God leads and guides this generation and all generations to seek to be educated. They say knowledge is power. I find that if we have options life is doable. Knowledge gives us the options that we need to succeed and live our very best life. There are so many avenues that help people to gain the information they need to make great decisions for their life. I received a scholarship that has helped me to gain my Certificate’s and Degree’s. The scholarship program made it possible for me to have a tribe and community that has helped me to thrive. The scholarship program gave me the mentorship , scholarships, and career services needed to complete my schooling.

   One of my favorite parts of school is seeing everyone in the class in sync, and gaining insight about a topic that the teacher has given us. Being able to teach and everyone in the class gets it is a rewarding experience. It’s important for everyone in the class to feel valued and important, all students should be able to succeed. They say a team is only as strong as the weakest link. Nurturing minds and gearing lessons to all different learning styles is extremely important for a classroom to flow. This can be challenging, but with much prayer God can make this possible.

Chapter 5  Shelter Life

   Shelter Life was hard. I was in the shelter for two and a half months. I was given my medication in the shelter and I was given a curfew. Thank You to God for helping me get an apartment. My Caseworker did all of the paperwork and I was able to sign the lease immediately. My Dad, Mom, Family, and Friends supported my decision to move into my apartment in my early 20s. My Dad went with me to sign my first lease. Thank you to my Parents, Family and Friends for supporting me as I chose to move out of my Parents home.

   At the Shelter I learned the skills of survival and discipline. In the shelter I was packed in a room with many women, the men were down the hall. The shelter was coed, but men and women were on separate sides of the shelter floor. There was an eating area, bathrooms, and recreation areas in the Shelter. The people that I met are still in my mind to this day. I was in the shelter maybe 15 years ago. I thank God for the Program that helped me find an Apartment. I lived in my first apartment for about ten years. I have moved to another home since then, but I will never forget my first Apartment.

Chapter 6  Psychiatric Ward Days

   I went to a psychiatric ward when I had my first breakdown. As I stated, I love school and church. These are some of my outlet sources, and God speaks to me and allows me to learn a lot at these places. I had my first breakdown on my college campus. Classes, work and extracurricular activities became too stressful for me.

   When I was brought to a psychiatric ward for the first time, it was eye opening. Everyone is on different paths and has different experiences. We are all at different stages in our mental stability and capabilities. I saw people that were depressed and happy. Some of the people there went through a lot of abuse, stress and many other difficult challenges. 

   At the psychiatric ward we were on a strict schedule. We had to wake at a certain time, make our beds, shower and have breakfast. Then we had to socialize and meet with our doctors. Next we had to take our medication given to us by our nurse. After that we had our daily counseling group meeting. Then we had lunch and free time. During free time we spoke on the telephone, read books and magazines, socialized with each other, watched tv and listened to music. During free time some people went out for supervised smoking. Also, we were able to have visitors come to see us. Many of my family and friends visited me while I was in the hospital, I will never forget, thank you. I have a best friend that I always called and received calls from in the hospital too, thank you. God is good and I receive all blessings in Jesus Christ’s mighty name. Amen.

   Mental Health workers have been very helpful for me, and are great! They are patient with the clients and help us to get on a healthy path mentally. I learn a lot from them, like how to work hard and keep positive even through difficult times. One of my former coworkers told me that God plans our lives. This has also helped me to trust God when I am discouraged.

   We had dinner in the psychiatric ward, and participated in daily group meetings to talk about how everyone was doing and who would be discharged to go home. Everyone was awaiting the time when their doctor would clear them to go home. I have been to the psychiatric ward about four times. I have not been in a psychiatric ward for over 15 years, thanks be to King Jesus Christ. He is the life giver.

Chapter 7  A Time for Healing, Past, Present, and Future.. Reflecting

   I am happy to say that I am on a great path in life. God is good for sure. I say Lord take complete control, never leave me and have your way. I will bless the Lord at all times and His praises shall continually be in my mouth. I pray that God continues to strengthen my Online Ministry. You can find me on many social media platforms: Shalea Berryhill.

   Stay Blessed and keep God first in your life. Pray for guidance and give your life to Jesus Christ to have Salvation. If you know of a Church that has a doctrine rooted and grounded in Jesus Christ and His teachings, I suggest that you attend in person or online. My background is Christian Baptist. I was christened and baptized in Church. You can write to me about my book or your own personal testimony. Thank You.😇❤️🙏