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"You're not an accidentYou're not a mistakeYou were only created forSomething far greaterYou may not see it yetBut you're beautifully madeAnd there's a reason a reasonYou're alive on this day"
The man who penned these lyrics was born outside of a wedlock and could have easily been another abortion statistic, if his mother, who was seventeen years old when she got pregnant, went ahead and terminated the pregnancy as her parents told her to.
Even though she was white and the father of the baby was black, she told her parents "No, no I'm going to keep this baby." And due to that "She ended up kind of getting shunned for a good chunk of her life after that and didn’t have a lot of contact with her parents." Said the artist on the interview with Lisa Ryn on CBN.
She got kicked out or moved out of her parents house to stay with the father of her child, but when she was eight months pregnant, she and the father split up. Being miles and miles away from home, addicted to drugs and the state getting ready to take the child from her as soon as she give birth, because she was considered an unfit mother - due to her drug problem. It seemed like her life was over, when God intervened and sent a lady out of a blue to witness about Christ to her. ‘I don’t know you, and I don’t want to give you a hard time, but I was driving by and I really felt that I needed to come tell you Jesus loves you. You’re not forgotten. You did the right thing. It’s going to be all right.’ the artist related the story. And because of the power of those words, his mother knelt down right there in the street, repented and gave her life to Jesus. And I guess that's where he got the inspiration from, many years later for his song titled "Not forgotten." But unfortunately, it was not the end of her journey, she was still have to give birth to her "half-breed" child, I presumed that's what they called him back then, remember it was still in the 70's and many people where not used to the "mixed race thing", and they are still not used to it even today - Africa, America, Asia, Europe is the same, it's still a taboo, dating or marrying outside of your own race. It's even more difficult if a child is involved.
Can you then imagine how it was like for young Israel Houghton growing up? At seven, meeting his grandfather who's full of racial prejudice for the first time and seeing his cousins and younger siblings running down to him and jumping on his lap, and he thinking he could do the same but only finding himself on his back, being pushed to the ground by his grandfather. " What’s wrong with me? Why?" the young Israel had to ask himself that question always. But he didn’t let the hate and bitterness of those who were around him, get to him. He didn't become bitter towards his father for leaving his mother the way he did. He didn't hate his grandfather for his prejudice and maybe even others. Finally, he didn't let the circumstances of his birth and childhood background dictate his destiny. Although his parents didn't plan for him and he was a "mistake" as his grandparents had put it, but according to God he was not a mistake. He was created for something greater and he knew there's a reason that he's alive. And haven't we seen it?Today Israel Houghton, whom I have already mentioned could have been another abortion statistic, is a prolific worship leader, musician, songwriter, producer and recording artist.
You too my friend, you not a mistake, God created you for something greater. In the words of Israel "You may not see it yet. But you're beautifully made. And there's a reason a reason You're alive on this day"
God bless you.
The man who penned these lyrics was born outside of a wedlock and could have easily been another abortion statistic, if his mother, who was seventeen years old when she got pregnant, went ahead and terminated the pregnancy as her parents told her to.
Even though she was white and the father of the baby was black, she told her parents "No, no I'm going to keep this baby." And due to that "She ended up kind of getting shunned for a good chunk of her life after that and didn’t have a lot of contact with her parents." Said the artist on the interview with Lisa Ryn on CBN.
She got kicked out or moved out of her parents house to stay with the father of her child, but when she was eight months pregnant, she and the father split up. Being miles and miles away from home, addicted to drugs and the state getting ready to take the child from her as soon as she give birth, because she was considered an unfit mother - due to her drug problem. It seemed like her life was over, when God intervened and sent a lady out of a blue to witness about Christ to her. ‘I don’t know you, and I don’t want to give you a hard time, but I was driving by and I really felt that I needed to come tell you Jesus loves you. You’re not forgotten. You did the right thing. It’s going to be all right.’ the artist related the story. And because of the power of those words, his mother knelt down right there in the street, repented and gave her life to Jesus. And I guess that's where he got the inspiration from, many years later for his song titled "Not forgotten." But unfortunately, it was not the end of her journey, she was still have to give birth to her "half-breed" child, I presumed that's what they called him back then, remember it was still in the 70's and many people where not used to the "mixed race thing", and they are still not used to it even today - Africa, America, Asia, Europe is the same, it's still a taboo, dating or marrying outside of your own race. It's even more difficult if a child is involved.
Can you then imagine how it was like for young Israel Houghton growing up? At seven, meeting his grandfather who's full of racial prejudice for the first time and seeing his cousins and younger siblings running down to him and jumping on his lap, and he thinking he could do the same but only finding himself on his back, being pushed to the ground by his grandfather. " What’s wrong with me? Why?" the young Israel had to ask himself that question always. But he didn’t let the hate and bitterness of those who were around him, get to him. He didn't become bitter towards his father for leaving his mother the way he did. He didn't hate his grandfather for his prejudice and maybe even others. Finally, he didn't let the circumstances of his birth and childhood background dictate his destiny. Although his parents didn't plan for him and he was a "mistake" as his grandparents had put it, but according to God he was not a mistake. He was created for something greater and he knew there's a reason that he's alive. And haven't we seen it?Today Israel Houghton, whom I have already mentioned could have been another abortion statistic, is a prolific worship leader, musician, songwriter, producer and recording artist.
You too my friend, you not a mistake, God created you for something greater. In the words of Israel "You may not see it yet. But you're beautifully made. And there's a reason a reason You're alive on this day"
God bless you.
