Music has been in my life for as long as I can remember. It initially started off as just a way to have fun as a child. However, as life progressed, I often caught myself using it as an escape, rather than enjoyment, from reality. The way music can alter your view of life is extraordinary. A song that can make you ecstatic can also make another person deflate in their emotions. A song that is particularly special to me is Grateful- by Hezekiah Walker. Growing up, being religious was important in my family. However, I truly don't believe that any of my family members knew who God was, until recently. I'm seventeen, just grasping the idea of what God wants me to do, how to act, and who He is. Even though I knew who God "was", I didn't actually know Him, I knew of Him. Thats why I found it very Ironic that he would play this song in one of the worst times of my life. In 2017, my family started to buckle under the pressure of being a "Christ-Like Family". Bickering turned into arguing, turned into fighting, turned into separation. Seeing how once my family was so "perfect" crumble, It destroyed me inside. Having two houses instead of one. Having to choose a parent, which no one should ever do. I was trying to find some source of happiness, but I never looked at the bible nor did I ever go to God until one day. I decided to turn on some worship music, any music that could get my mind off of reality. When I first heard "Grateful", I was angry. "What do I have to be grateful for? You split up my family, you ruined my life! Why would I thank you for that?" I questioned God in the middle of my bathroom. I ended up despising the song for months because of its message and refused to listen to it anywhere. Fast forward to Sunday July 7th, 2019. My family miraculously got back together. We were better than ever and my parents worked out their differences and put Christ in the center of everything we did. We head to church that Sunday, just like we do any other Sunday, but that day was my birthday. When we get there, the church plays their regular scheduled songs, just like they do every service. After they finish, they decided that they wanted to play one more song. It was Grateful by Hezekiah Walker. I hadn't listened to it since 2017. Tears filled not only my eyes but my entire body. My family didn't understand, but God did. He showed me that even when the situation seems bad, he will always pull through. That He can take ANY situation and flip it, just as he did that song. Now when I hear it, I don't get mad anymore, I truly am grateful. I use this song as courage for everything and anything I need to conquer.