Be inspired

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Thank God I don’t look like what I’ve been through! I often hear people say that I display grace, beauty, and prestige. I chuckle to myself every time because I wasn’t always that way. My journey seems more rough and ragged but God smoothed out the kinks and transformed me into a beautiful swan. I mean this in more than just the physical form. I have transformed mentally, physically, and spiritually as I connected more to God.

 

As a teenage girl, my confidence was low. My family and I lived in government housing and struggled to make ends meet. I met my high school sweetheart just before my 15th birthday and became pregnant at 17. I had a petite frame and looked no more than 12 years old. Society was cruel to a young girl with a belly. I was looked down on, spoken about openly, and stared at like a circus freak. I could have allowed that to break me at an early age but chose to use it as a lesson. I allowed it to thicken my skin and decided then that I was not going to ever be a statistic. I was not going to let the title of a teenage mother be my downfall.

 

I made a vow to my unborn child that I would give her the best possible life I could. I stayed in school. I maintained my grades and graduated with honors. I felt I had something to prove to the rest of the world. I needed to show them I wasn’t a failure. I didn’t have a relationship with God then, I knew who he was but I wasn’t aware of his greatness.

 

Four years later, I became a mother of 2 beautiful girls but wanted more out of life. I wasn’t content doing little with my life. I made the decision to leave my high school sweetheart despite not wanting to be a single mother. I wanted what was best for my baby girls even if that meant sacrificing things for myself. I had enough faith to know that God wasn’t going to leave me deserted.

 

 

"Society was cruel to a young girl with a belly.

I was looked down on, spoken about openly, and stared at like a circus freak.

I could have allowed that to break me at an early age but chose to use it as a lesson."

 

 

Five months later, God placed a man into my life that looked past the exterior walls I had built up. He looked past the post partum depression and bitterness I was harnessing. I let my walls down and fell in love. I took on all the responsibility that came with being his woman. He had 4 children from his previous marriage. He had a mother dying of cancer, a father that was against dating outside of the Muslim community, and an ex wife that hated my existence. In spite of all the warnings, I loved him with all of my heart. I loved him as God loved me. Unconditionally.

 

In order to shut out the negative talk of the outside world, I separated myself. I made him my world and he made me his wife. Prior to the wedding, God had given many signs that this wasn’t meant to be. I didn’t listen to God. I didn’t follow my intuition. Although we had many high points in the relationship, the low ones left me on my face emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.

 

I was pregnant with my third child when we said our wedding vows. I needed some assurance that my upside down world would one day be turned right side up. Shortly after having my son I began attending church every Sunday. Married to a non practicing Muslim I didn’t think this was going to be such an issue.

 

The marriage grew toxic. Verbal and emotional abuse broke my spirit. I would attend church but I wasn’t absorbing anything. I was an empty shell. The word echoed through me and didn’t stick. The first time the abuse became physical I decided that was going to be the last time. I ignored God when he showed me the signs not to get married so I wasn’t about to ignore the sign that showed me an exit.

 

Making the decision to leave was the start of a new life for me. It became the rebirth of Makini Smith. I was forced out of my comfort zone. Like a caterpillar forced into a cocoon against its will, I came out a beautiful butterfly.

I changed my life. I changed my circle. I changed my mindset. I changed my focus.

 

I began a new career as an entrepreneur at the same time I filed for my divorce. I had 3 kids to feed, a mortgage to pay, an empire to build and zero money. With pure faith, determination and perseverance I reached the top of my game one-year later.

 

 

"Making the decision to leave was the start of a new life for me.

It became the rebirth of Makini Smith."

 

 

Hitting award levels in real estate, making $50,000 CAN in the last 4 months of that year to pay off all my debts and the divorce lawyer.

 

At what seemed like the height of it all I was knocked off my feet completely. My best friend, my sister, was taken from me. At a young age, a single mother with a grandchild that hadn’t yet celebrated her first birthday was taken from us all. After 3 weeks at her bedside as she lay asleep in a coma, I once again lost everything I thought I had.

 

Losing her showed me who I was and who I was suppose to be. It’s devastating that I had to lose the one person I felt would forever have my back in order to discover my purpose in life. Losing her and discovering the impact she had on so many lives made me want to leave a great legacy behind too. She touched so many hearts with her kindness and prayers that it inspired me to do the same.

 

God has a sense of humor that we may never understand. He has a funny way of showing us things. I know that he is meticulous and does things with intention. Once I grieved and healed from her loss I was determined to change and affect lives. Giving back and volunteering became my passion. Pouring my energy into making this world a better place one person at a time made me feel alive.

 

I listened to God and decided to take my story and the tools I learned and place them into a book so that I could make an impact one to many rather than one to one. Using scripture, life experience, and grace “A Walk In My Stilettos” was birthed. Showing others how I turned every life lesson into a blessing to live a positive fulfilling life. I give you the tools on how to use faith, courage, compassion, and connections to live your best life.

 

I came from a broke family, in a broken home. I was a teenage mother, experienced abuse, became a single mother, and yet here I stand. I am whole and on my feet with more faith than most scripture quoting churchgoer. Life does not happen to you, it happens for you. Life is truly what you make it. Find the positive in every situation. The struggle isn’t there to break you; it’s there to strengthen you.

 

I talk the talk because I have walked the walk. I walk by faith.

God has called me and he has empowered me to change and affect every life!

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