Susan's Homecoming
Mar 11, 2010
For many, the word home means family, pets, a certain house or city. Maybe it brings back warm feelings and memories of childhood.
But for Susan Smith Armstrong, her childhood years were spent in foster care, and returning “home” was the last thing she thought she’d ever do.
Susan came to the Troy campus of Alabama Baptist Children’s Homes & Family Ministries (ABCH) with her brother when she was 7 years old. She spent a total of 12 years there, and although loved and provided for, she wanted to be with her parents more than anything.
In 1990, Susan moved out of the home and married. The Children’s Homes had become a distant memory. After her divorce, she moved to Shelby County. She remarried in 2000 and a few years later had a son. Susan had made a life for herself.
But tragedy struck Susan in 2007 when she lost her husband. When Susan went to make the funeral arrangements, she received so much more than what she expected. Bob Murdaugh, former communications director for ABCH, helped her make the arrangements for her husband’s funeral.
After the funeral, Bob gave Susan a Children’s Homes business card. He said, “Susan, I have some people here that would love to help you. You can give them a call and they’ll help you and your son with counseling.”
When Susan saw what Bob had given her, tears started streaming down her face as she said, “This is where I was raised, Bob. This is my family.”
Soon after the funeral was over, hard times started setting in on Susan. She said that she was nervous about her well being financially, spiritually, and emotionally, but the Children’s Homes was there for her during this time.
“I didn’t know what to do. I was depressed and all I had to turn to was God, and I was nervous about that. I was just scared,” Susan said.
Cathy McDaniel, ABCH social worker, is one person who truly touched Susan’s life.“At the lowest point of my life I didn’t think there was anyone out there who cared. And she came and she prayed with me, she held my hand and she cried with me,” Susan said. Cathy told Susan to never be afraid to ask if she needed anything.
Over the next few months, the Children’s Homes helped Susan get back on her feet, and she developed a new appreciation for the impact the Children’s Homes has on peoples’ lives.
“It made me open my eyes and realize the way they brought me up,” she said. “I was living by the standards of the Children’s Home.”The Children’s Homes showed Susan that she has people who love her and want to help.
Susan began praying that God would be able to use her testimony with ABCH to witness to others in some way. Three years later, God has answered her prayers. She now speaks in churches about how the Children’s Homes has impacted the lives of her and her son. She speaks to single moms in the Alabaster Family Care Home about God’s love for them and how God will help them through any situation that may come their way.
“I know this will be a benefit where I can pray with them and witness to them,” Susan said. “No matter what they go through in life, God is always with them and the Children’s Homes is there to help them.”
Susan learned so many things through the hard times that she has faced, but one of the most important things was that, “Sometimes God puts you in situations where you just have to open up and ask for help. I like to do it on my own, but sometimes you just can’t do it all.”
Story and Photo by: Jessica Sansom,ABCH Communications Intern
Story and Photo by: Jessica Sansom,ABCH Communications Intern