“And we know that all things work together for the good to them that love God, to them that are the called according to His purpose.” [Romans 8:28, NKJV] One of the greatest delights of my life has been the God-ordained privilege of knowing Debra D. Winans and accepting the call to participate in her nurture and growth. She has a story to tell, and I am thoroughly elated that she has begun to tell it. I choose to say “she has begun…” because this offering you are now reading is but a preamble to a significant and ongoing journey. Throughout her formative years, she was provided the first and foremost tool she would need for the journey that her life would take: a solid, Christian foundation, built through an intense labor of love. When my husband and I were chosen to be her godparents, this foundation had already been laid. Our assignment was to provide reinforcement to that foundation and enlarge upon it, sanctioning the “liberty with boundaries” given her by those who had the weightier responsibility; all within the reassuring environment of unconditional love. WOW! What a joy! We had the easy part! It was not perfect because we’re not perfect. However, the strength of character developed within her was so phenomenal that even after an occasional emotional tantrum (although few and far between), she just had a way of making light the hearts of those around her. Debra’s constant sense of awe and wonder made her a joy to be with. Thank God that through all her experiences, life has not robbed her of that childlike sense of amazement. Debra’s personal style and wit reveal maturity, a deep compassion for people, an intelligent and perceptive mind, as well as a true servant’s heart. She demonstrates a firm grasp on the principles of love and forgiveness that bring healing and restoration. As she shares her heart and her journey, allow the Lord to reveal to you the matters of your heart that can bring you into that “Aha” moment of Divine destiny. Let the journey begin… Dr. Helena Barrington Founder, Metropolitan Christian Academy of the Arts Tallahassee, Florida