Pain. Purpose. Persistence. These three words describe the upbringing of Jerome McGee Jr., a once broken man on a journey to healing. After four decades of being overlooked, mistreated, and misunderstood, he's finally ready to tell his story, and he's starting from the beginning.

Growing up as a young boy in Velma, Louisiana, Jerome learned the importance of hard work early on. While most children dreamed of becoming doctors, lawyers, teachers, and even astronauts, Jerome remained focused on one goal in particular: doing whatever it took to survive. Even as he looked to the adults in his life for wisdom and guidance, he still longed for love and acceptance from others, which he later learned could only come from within.

Despite carrying the pain and emptiness that stemmed from past secrets, silent depression, an absent father, and an abusive relationship, Jerome found purpose in his struggles and used them to build his character and faith. He remained persistent as he continued reinventing himself after every disappointment, refusing to allow his circumstances to define him, no matter how unfortunate.

You Don't Know My Struggle: How Life's Lessons Turned Into Life's Blessings, Part I invites you to take a journey with Jerome McGee Jr. through his childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood as he details lessons learned in life, love, family, brotherhood, and fatherhood. As you uncover why these life lessons have become his life blessings, it is his hope that they inspire you to identify the hidden blessings in your own story.