Jonathan Anthony Burkett Acknowledgments

I first give thanks to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and my Father God, for being right here by my side, day and night, taking me through all my troubled times and hard struggles to the life I now live. I give thanks for my angel who’s been watching over me, who was sent from heaven by my Lord and Savior. Thanks to my Father God for giving me such loving and kind grandparents, brothers, aunts, uncles, and cousins in Jamaica.

I give God thanks for my two brothers. No matter what, we will always love one another, and be there for one another. They were the ones who snuck me inside the house whenever our mother wasn’t around and I needed a shower and food. Whenever they could, they offered me a roof over my head and a bed to sleep in at night. They have given me another reason to stay here and live a life on earth and achieve success in my lifetime.

I give thanks to all of the nurses and doctors who have given me love and support time and time again, particularly Marise, a worker from Memorial Hospital. She cared for me as if I were her son, even when I was discharged from the hospital. They inspired me to do the right thing and set goals, and not just sit down feeling sad and mad at life.

I thank God for all who have supported me with food and love, wanting nothing in return, even though they did not know me while I was living on the streets. I give God thanks for all those homeless men who were not living a clean life at that time, but who still encouraged me and taught me about the consequences one can suffer not only from the police but also from our Father God. They taught me to be the best man that I could be, to try to take advantage of every opportunity and chance presented to me, and to try to live a right and astonishing life.

I thank God for my friends who gave me a place to rest my head at night time and time again. Many have encouraged me to do right in my life and to let go all of that was hurting me so drastically.

I give thanks to all the people who helped me, including the parents of my friends who were there for me, and who chose to help guide me away from certain influences. They told me not to follow the bad examples of others, because they did not want me to end up like the friends and family members who never had the inspiration and courage to do better.

I give thanks to all the churches I’ve attended for teaching my Father’s words and for helping me to start thinking more positively—your presence has helped make me into a better man. Thank you to all the pastors and ministers for your strong words of encouragement. You said that if one has faith in one’s life, no matter the obstacles and struggles, our Father God will shower him or her with blessings in an unbelievable way.

I give God thanks for bringing that special friend, best friend, and sister into my life. I began to love her the most because she not only approached me with words of encouragement, but also insisted I do better. I thank her for her trueness toward me, especially during a time when I kept thinking and doing wrong things in my life, and I thank her for making me think about true love.

All I have to say to my mother is that I wish someone could have been there for you and I am sorry for everything. You are my birth mother, and I have love for you and I thank you for giving me life. However, I have not been presented with the chance to say this because of how we have departed from each other’s lives.

There are many to whom I convey my thanks. However, there are a few VIPs that I especially thank for coming into my life and for every word of encouragement they have given me:

Lynn Burkett (Grandmother)

Arnold Burkett (Grandfather)

Marise Christophe (Godmother)